Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Hill 605 Heroism in the Korean War

Dec 23 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Hill 605 Heroism in the Korean War

Blood and ice. A hillside soaked with fire and fury. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood against a wall of screaming North Korean and Chinese troops on February 1, 1951, at Hill 605. Wounded, bleeding, surrounded, he refused to break. The weight of command, the brutality of war, and a relentless enemy crashed upon him like a violent winter storm. Yet, he held fast.

The Roots of Valor

Edward Raymond Schowalter Jr. was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1927. Raised amid a culture of Southern grit and humility, he carried the hard-won values of discipline, faith, and loyalty. A Methodist upbringing grounded him, not in sentimental piety, but in a steadfast code—to serve something greater than himself.

Faith was more than words. It was armor. As he later told reporters, “I always believed God was on our side, but you had to earn it right here,” he tapped his chest. Honesty, courage, and sacrifice weren’t just ideals—they were necessities of survival.

He enlisted in the Army as the world rebuilt after World War II, graduating from Officer Candidate School. His demeanor was quiet, but his resolve fierce—qualities that earned him command of Company I, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Korea.

The Battle That Defined Him

The night was black, the wind howling like death itself. Schowalter’s company was dug in on Hill 605, a linchpin in the bloody fight for control around Seoul.

On the night of February 1, 1951, Chinese forces launched wave after wave of attacks, their numbers overwhelming. The enemy surged forward with bayonets and grenades. The cold air smelled of smoke and blood.

Schowalter refused to yield. Even after a bullet tore through his left arm, he tore off his blood-soaked sleeve and kept fighting.

- When a headquarters radio operator fell, Schowalter grabbed the radio himself and coordinated artillery fire. - Severely wounded a second time, he ignored the pain, dragged himself through enemy fire, and rallied his men. - More than once, he led counterattacks to reclaim lost ground. - When overwhelming odds threatened to shatter his command, he ordered orderly withdrawals, then counterattacks, holding the hill at all costs.

The Medal of Honor citation details extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty, describing how Schowalter “continuously exposed himself to heavy enemy fire, inspiring men to hold fast against overwhelming forces.”

When told of his award, Schowalter remained humble. “I was just doing my job,” he said. But the facts tell a different story: a single officer holding a critical point, wounded multiple times, refusing to surrender—the very image of battlefield courage.

Recognition Etched in Valor

February 1, 1951, was not the only day Schowalter bled for his country, but it was the one that stamped his name into the annals of American heroism.

President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor on October 12, 1951.^1 The citation called his actions “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

His commander, Colonel John T. Michaelis, said, “Schowalter’s leadership saved his unit and stopped the enemy advance on that hill.” Fellow soldiers remembered his quiet confidence and unyielding will.

Others who witnessed the ferocity of the fight invoked the scripture he often carried:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Legacy Etched in Blood and Honor

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story is not just about a single battle. It’s a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who stand between chaos and order. His scars—both physical and spiritual—speak to the cost of sacrifice and the weight of leadership.

In the quiet moments after the war, he never glorified combat. Instead, he emphasized the brotherhood forged in fire, the burden carried by those left behind, and the enduring hope for peace.

His valor shines as a lighthouse for generations: courage is not the absence of fear, but the will to act despite it. Command is not the position you hold but the example you set. Faith is not an escape from reality but a weapon to confront it.

War does not clean its scars. It only marks the men and women who endure it. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. wore those scars proudly. His story challenges every veteran and civilian: What price are you willing to pay to stand for what is right?

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War,” Ed Schowalter Jr. 2. Ecker, Richard E., Battleground Korea: The Korean War, 1950-1953, 2004. 3. O’Donnell, Patrick, “Medal of Honor: True Stories of Korean War Heroes,” 2010.