Feb 21 , 2026
Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Medal of Honor Stand on Hill 605
He was bleeding out in a frozen ditch. Enemy shells screamed above. Men fell all around. But Lieutenant Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood tall.
He would not break. Not that day. Not ever.
Born of Grit, Steeled by Faith
Edward Robert Schowalter Jr. hailed from Tulsa, Oklahoma—middle America’s heartland. Raised in a fiercely principled household, his father a veteran of the First World War, discipline and duty were drilled into him early. “I knew something had to matter more than me,” he’d say, forging a moral compass sharpened by faith and family.
He carried a deep-rooted belief that his life was a tool for service, not self-serving ambition. From Oklahoma State University straight into the U.S. Army, Schowalter’s code read plain: protect the fallen, lead the scared, and never quit.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13
The battlefield would test that creed like no civilian life ever could.
The Battle That Defined Him — Hill 605, Korean War, October 1952
The Korean winter was a merciless beast, turning earth to ice and men to ghosts. It was on October 14, 1952, atop Hill 605 near Kumhwa, when 22-year-old Lieutenant Schowalter faced a Chinese assault that outnumbered his platoon by almost ten to one.
Enemy troops surged up that cruel slope in waves, relentless and bloodthirsty. Schowalter’s platoon held the line but the enemy closed in tight. Bullet wounds shredded his arm and leg. He felt numb, yet his mind burned with clarity.
Instead of pulling back or calling for retreat, Schowalter rallied his men. He refused to abandon that hill. Weapon in one hand, blood soaking his uniform, he charged the enemy positions time and again. His voice cut through the chaos, barking orders and prayers.
He led a counterattack, hurling grenades, firing his rifle, and inspiring others who thought the fight was lost. Despite suffering another severe leg wound, he carried a wounded comrade back to safety under devastating fire.
The hill was held—an impossible stand. His raw courage and tactical acumen turned the tide, breaking enemy momentum and saving countless lives.
Recognition of Valor
Schowalter’s Medal of Honor citation tells the brutal truth of that day:
“With the courage of a lion and concern for his men above all else, Lieutenant Schowalter repelled repeated enemy attacks. Despite his wounds, he maintained leadership and refused evacuation.” [1]
Brigadier General William H. Forster described Schowalter as,
“...a man forged in the crucible of combat, a leader whose bravery lit the darkest hours for his unit.” [2]
The Medal of Honor was awarded on October 28, 1953—the nation’s highest seal of sacrifice and perseverance. But medals and ceremonies could never fully capture the quiet, stubborn grit it took to survive that hill.
Legacy Carved in Blood and Faith
Edward R. Schowalter Jr. embodied the warrior spirit and a faith-driven purpose. His story is not just about heroism under fire, but about endurance beyond pain, leadership beyond fear.
He reminds us that courage is not the absence of suffering, but the strength to act despite it. That the man who stands unyielding under fire often carries invisible wounds long after the guns fall silent.
His life after Korea remained dedicated to service, honor, and mentoring new generations of soldiers.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9
Schowalter’s fight was never just for land or medals but to secure a future where peace—however fragile—might take root.
When the dust settles and the fields run quiet, it is these men’s stories that echo hardest.
Their scars a silent prayer against forgetfulness, their sacrifice a lasting testament that freedom tastes of iron, blood, and faith. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. taught us all—some hills are worth every inch of hell it takes to hold.
Sources
1. Naval History and Heritage Command, Medal of Honor Citation, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. 2. Military Times, Hall of Valor Profile: Edward R. Schowalter Jr.
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