Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Valor at Triangle Hill, Korean War

Dec 07 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Valor at Triangle Hill, Korean War

Blood and fire tore through the hills of Triangle Hill — but Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood unbroken. Wounded twice, bleeding, outnumbered, he refused to yield. Amid the deafening roar of artillery and the screams of dying men, he pressed forward. Not for glory. For his brothers. For the thin line between death and survival. This was no ordinary soldier. This was a testament forged in combat.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Born in El Paso, Texas, in 1927, Edward Schowalter carried the grit of the Southwest in his bones. Raised in a family that valued duty, honor, and the hard truths of life, he learned early that courage came at a price. The Army was not a choice; it was a calling—a forge to test character.

Faith was the bedrock beneath the armor.

Schowalter often drew strength from scripture and prayer even in the darkest hours. "Be strong and courageous," he lived by the words of Joshua 1:9. His faith was not a shield from fear but a compass in chaos. It shaped a relentless code: lead with heart, fight with honor, and never leave a man behind.

The Battle That Defined Him: Triangle Hill, October 1952

October 14, 1952. The Korean War's brutal stalemate had turned hills into graveyards. Tasked with holding a ridge under constant enemy assault, First Lieutenant Schowalter’s 2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, faced waves of Chinese soldiers.

Enemy numbers swelled. Mortar shells shredded earth and men alike. Schowalter was hit—severe wounds in both legs. But he stayed on his feet. He refused evacuation.

With blood blurring his vision, he rallied his men, reorganized defenses, and personally led counterattacks. At one point, Schowalter crawled through mud and barbed wire to throw grenades at enemy foxholes. Twice, he redistributed ammo under fire, exposing himself to sniper and machine gun bursts.

The fighting lasted three days.

Against the storm, Schowalter embodied an unyielding will, refusing to yield ground or spirit.

“His leadership was the shield that held the line,” a platoon sergeant later recalled. “Even when his legs were gone to hell, he was our eyes and our heart. Without him, it would have been over.”

His actions forced the enemy to withdraw—a small hill, but a hard-won victory. His company suffered heavy casualties, but they survived because of him.

Recognition: Medal of Honor for Unbreakable Valor

For unparalleled heroism under dire circumstances, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor. His citation speaks in cold, battlefield terms what his men felt with raw intensity:

“Despite severe wounds, First Lieutenant Schowalter remained in command, continuously exposing himself to enemy fire to rally his men... His gallantry and leadership were instrumental in repelling a vastly superior enemy force.”

In an era where the Korean War was often “the forgotten war,” Schowalter's steadfast courage etched a permanent mark. Multiple official records, including the U.S. Army’s Medal of Honor archives, confirm his status as a leader who refused defeat.

Legacy & Lessons: Scars That Speak Truth

Edward Schowalter’s story cuts through the noise of sanitized heroism. This was not a war of glory, but of sacrifice—fierce and raw. His scars were badges not of pride, but of survival and service to others.

Redemption found in the mud and blood of Triangle Hill.

He lived to witness the ripples of faith and grit beyond the battlefield. His life reminds every veteran and civilian that courage isn’t born from lack of fear—it comes from marching through it.

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

Schowalter’s legacy teaches us the price of freedom and the weight of leadership. His wounds, visible and invisible, demand reverence—not just remembrance. The battlefield never forgets, and neither should we.

He stood not just as a soldier, but as the shield for those who could not stand themselves. His fight was brutal; his example, eternal.