Jan 18 , 2026

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

Blood spatters the frozen ground. Bullets scream past his head. Men fall around him, but Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stands tall, shattered but unbroken. With one arm mangled, a bullet wound searing through his side, he screams orders that refuse to die in the chaos. This is not a man, but a force – a reckoning.

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The Making of a Warrior

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, 1927. Raised in a world still scarred by the Great War, he grew under the steady hand of a man who knew discipline, faith, and sacrifice. The Bible was his anchor, and Ephesians 6:13 spoke to his soul:

“...take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day...”

That scripture became Schowalter’s battle hymn.

He enlisted in the Army shortly after World War II ended. Schowalter wasn’t drawn by glory. He was pulled by a solemn conviction—duty to something greater than himself. The crucible of infantry life forged his code: protect your brothers, never yield, lead from the front.

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The Battle That Defined Him

Korea, February 27, 1951. The 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division—Schowalter’s unit—was dug in atop a fiercely contested ridge near Hoengsong. The enemy had surged in waves, a relentless tide seeking to crush the American foothold.

Schowalter was lieutenant, barely 23. The grim weight of command settled heavy on his bloodied shoulders. Hours earlier, the Chinese forces launched a massive assault, crashing against the hill like thunder.

He was hit early. Shrapnel tore into his right arm; a bullet ripped through his chest. Yet, he refused to withdraw. Blood poured but he stayed. He ripped grenades from the hands of dead soldiers and hurled them at the enemy.

His radio had gone dead. Communication to headquarters vanished into the storm of war.

He forged a plan in the dark. Using sheer will and shouted orders, he rallied the defense.

When a squad faltered and began retreating under intense fire, Schowalter charged into the swirling nightmare. Ignoring his injuries, he fought hand-to-hand, chopping through enemy fighters with his rifle butt. His men saw the wound, the exhaustion, but they saw something stronger—an unbreakable spirit.

One of his Soldiers later said, “Lieutenant Schowalter didn’t just lead us. He carried us up that hill, one punch and barked command at a time.”

Late into the night, the enemy grew desperate, piling on with bayonets and flame. Schowalter’s voice cut through:

“Hold this ground or die trying.”

He stayed until the position was secure, then, collapsed. Medics rushed in, extracting the lieutenant who would later be called a hero—not just for survival, but for inspiring fierce tenacity even when the body screamed surrender.[^1][^2]

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Medal of Honor: The Price of Valor

The Medal of Honor citation for Schowalter tells the bare facts, but it can’t capture the fury in his eyes or the fire in his heart:

“Lieutenant Schowalter’s leadership, boldness, and courage under fire were instrumental in repelling the hostile attack ... He exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire, moving among his men to encourage them...”[^2]

The Army’s highest honor felt like a scar etched deeper into a soul that had already paid.

Generals called him "a living embodiment of warrior spirit." Fellow officers testified that his example saved countless lives.

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Lessons in Blood and Faith

Edward Schowalter’s story is not a monument covered in dust.

It is living proof that sacrifice demands more than courage—it demands a heart hardened in the fire of loyalty, sharpened by grace under pressure.

He showed that leadership is not safe or clean; it’s brutal and honest. It’s about standing with your brothers when every instinct screams to run. It’s about knowing the cost and paying it anyway.

The scars he carried were not shame but testament—to commitment, to faith, and to redemption on a battlefield where humanity often falls away.

“No greater love has a man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

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The name Edward R. Schowalter Jr. is a shout in the dark. A challenge to those who forget what true sacrifice means. His wounds bled more than flesh—they bled the story of a generation who dared to stand between freedom and the abyss.

For every vet who’s ever crawled back from hell bearing scars invisible to most—his story is yours.

For every civilian who still wonders what real battle looks like—it’s messy, it’s brutal, and it’s the courage to face the storm and not flinch.

This is the legacy of a warrior. This is the honor they earned with blood.

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[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War (Schowalter, Edward R. Jr.)

[^2]: Charles G. Roland, Battle Story: The Korean War, University of Oklahoma Press, 2000.

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