Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Medal of Honor at Triangle Hill

Jan 18 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Medal of Honor at Triangle Hill

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood alone, pinned down by enemy fire, blood coursing from a shattered shoulder. His rifle jammed. The hill was lost if he faltered. But with a grunt, he charged the enemy trench with a grenade in hand—not because he wanted glory—but because his brothers-in-arms depended on him.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 29, 1951. Triangle Hill, Korea. The night was a frozen hellscape. Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers swarmed like shadows. Captain Schowalter’s company, nestled in the bitter cold, was vastly outnumbered.

Under merciless fire, his command post took a brutal hit. Wounded twice, bleeding through his uniform, Schowalter refused to withdraw. Instead, he rallied fragmented squads, rebuilt defenses, and led multiple counterattacks with reckless courage.

His Silver Star Medal citation tells part of the story—the whole truth lies in cold grit meeting raw pain. He crawled into a machine gun bunker, tossed grenades, and personally silenced enemy positions. Each wound was a reminder: failure meant annihilation for his men.

"Though severely wounded, Capt. Schowalter continued to lead the defense and counterattacks against a major enemy assault, inspiring all who witnessed his heroic actions."¹

Background & Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Born in Alabama on August 9, 1927, Edward Schowalter Jr.’s life was etched with discipline. Raised in a devout home, faith filled the silence between gunshots. Church was not just ritual—it was a code.

At West Point, where Schowalter graduated in 1950, scripture carved his mindset about sacrifice and leadership. Command was not a privilege but a burden given by God to protect others. Proverbs 27:17 was his quiet motto: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Faith undergirded his grit. When others would have surrendered or retreated, Schowalter saw purpose in pain. The battlefield was a crucible where duty and redemption intertwined.

The Fight on Triangle Hill

Triangle Hill remains a testament to sheer will. The hill’s jagged slopes were the frontline for some of the fiercest engagements in Korean War history. On that November morning, Schowalter led Company L, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

Enemy forces surged with overwhelming numbers. Communications broke down; artillery fire was nearly constant. Schowalter’s shoulder was shattered by mortar fragments but he refused medevac. He moved from foxhole to foxhole, dragging wounded men to safety and rousing those ready to collapse.

When an enemy grenade landed near his command post, he lunged and smothered the blast with his body, later firing a captured enemy weapon while shouting orders. There was no room for hesitation—only action.

Lieutenant General James Van Fleet called the battle “an ordeal that demanded more than valor—it required near superhuman endurance and leadership.” Schowalter was that rare leader—a warrior who chose to bear every wound as a badge of responsibility.

Recognition in Blood and Bronze

In May 1952, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor from President Truman in a ceremony heavy with solemn pride. His award citation records:

“With complete disregard for his personal safety and despite serious wounds, Capt. Schowalter unhesitatingly led his men... His heroism and unyielding determination inspired all who witnessed it and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army."²

Quiet and unassuming, Schowalter deflected praise. “I just did my job,” he said. But his men remembered him as the man who refused to let a single soldier fall beyond the line. A brother who bled with them and for them.

Legacy Etched in Duty

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. reminds us that courage isn’t born from the absence of fear. It is carved from sacrifice, sharpened by purpose. His story isn’t just one of bullets and medals—it’s a blueprint in redemptive leadership.

Combat is brutal. It tears down the soul, strips away illusion. Yet within chaos, Schowalter discovered divine resolve. His faith, hardened in the fires of war, gives testimony: that even in the darkest crucibles, sacrifice bears fruit.

The scars—visible and invisible—remind us of cost and consequence. Schowalter’s life calls every warrior to examine what they fight for beyond the battlefield.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

His legacy is clear—lead like your life depends on it. Because, on that day, it did.

Sources

1. Department of the Army, Medal of Honor Citation, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. 2. The United States Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War.”