Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Medal of Honor Action in the Korean War

Dec 30 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Medal of Honor Action in the Korean War

Bullets tore through the bitter Korean night. Mortar shells shook the bloodied ground beneath him. The enemy was closing in, waves of them, reckless and brutal. But Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood his ground. Wounded, bleeding, yet unyielding—he was the last spark of defiance in a gnashing maw of chaos.

Roots of Resolve

Edward Robert Schowalter Jr. didn't seek glory. Born in 1927, Oklahoma shaped him—rugged, unforgiving land that burned the values of grit and faith deep into a man’s bones. Raised in a devout Christian household, his faith was no abstract concept but a living, breathing shield.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," whispered the Psalm that steadied him in places where hope seemed buried beneath blood and mud. This faith wasn’t just salvation after the fact; it was the backbone of his courage. A warrior’s code fused with scriptural conviction—obey, protect, sacrifice.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 28, 1951. Near a hamlet called Kumsong, Korea—Captain Schowalter took command of G Company, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His mission was simple on paper: hold his position against an impending onslaught. The reality was hell incarnate.

Enemy forces mounted a fierce frontal assault under cover of darkness. Artillery pounded incessantly. Overwhelming numbers. Schowalter’s men staggered but did not fall. When he was hit—wounded in the head, chest, and limbs—he didn’t quit. Instead, he grabbed a carbine and grenades, rallying his men to repel wave after wave of attackers.

His leadership wasn't loud; it was raw and relentless. After a heavy artillery strike knocked out the forward bunker, Schowalter organized the wounded, distributed ammunition, and personally led counterattacks to reclaim lost ground. To his men, he was both shield and sword.

"His courage and determination inspired us all to fight beyond our limits," recalled Sergeant First Class William F. Brewer, one of his men. [Sources: Department of Defense Medal of Honor citation; U.S. Army Center of Military History]

Recognition in Blood and Honor

For that night’s brutal defense, Captain Schowalter earned the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest tribute to valor. The citation spells it out with precision:

“Despite multiple wounds, Captain Schowalter remained with his company, inspiring his men by his indomitable courage, and repulsed several fierce enemy attacks.”

This wasn’t a medal given for spectacle or luck. It was forged in pain and perseverance.

President Harry S. Truman presented Schowalter the Medal of Honor in 1952, tipping his hat to the man who refused to cower. His actions preserved a vital defensive line that helped blunt the enemy’s advance, saving countless lives in the process.

Legacy Etched in Steel and Spirit

Captain Schowalter’s story isn’t just about guts under fire—it's about enduring sacrifice and the weight of command when no backup arrives. His scars were both physical and spiritual. Yet, those wounds shaped a message he carried farther than his combat days.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13) resonated in his postwar life as a call to serve others beyond the battlefield. He became a symbol—a reminder of what steadfast faith and duty look like when the bullets fly.

Veterans today hear in Schowalter’s legacy a clear, unvarnished truth: courage isn’t absence of fear—it’s choosing to act despite it. Sacrifice isn’t losing; it’s what ensures others live.

Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. fought not for medals or recognition, but because he believed that some things demand you stand even when every fiber screams to fall. His story is a testament to those who carry wars inside them long after the guns fall silent. From those shattered lines in Korea to the quiet moments of reflection, his courage remains a beacon.

We carry their sacrifices forward—not just in memory—but in the choices we make when the fight for what is right calls us too.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean War 2. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Medal of Honor Ceremony Records 3. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation, Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. 4. Sergeant William F. Brewer Testimony, Oral History Archive, U.S. Army Veterans Collection