Jan 26 , 2026
Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Valor on Hoengsong Ridge in Korea
Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood alone on a blood-soaked ridge, eyes burning with defiance through the smoke. Wounded, outnumbered, and cut off, he did not falter. They wanted him dead. Instead, he unleashed hell and rallied a shattered company.
This was no ordinary fight. This was a crucible. A test of body, soul, and indomitable will.
Background & Faith
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Schowalter grew up steeped in values hammered out by hardship and faith. A quiet Christian upbringing laid a foundation of humility and grit. Those early lessons shaped a man who understood that duty was more than orders—it was a covenant.
Before Korea, Edward earned a commission through ROTC, carrying a soldier’s code deeper than medals or headlines. Sacrifice was a given. Courage was the only currency that mattered.
The Battle That Defined Him
February 1, 1951. The rugged hills of Hoengsong, Korea, trapped Schowalter’s Company I—part of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division—in a deadly trap. Chinese forces, masters of night assaults and insane numbers, surged through the freezing darkness.
An enemy battalion, estimated twice their strength, hammered them with relentless ferocity. Communications? Cut. Reinforcements? Days away. Withdrawal? Impossible.
Schowalter, then a first lieutenant, took stock in the chaos. His men were pinned down and bleeding out like fire in winter.
With one arm shattered by enemy fire and a chest wound leaking the cold, he kept fighting.
He led from the front, directing artillery strikes that fell on enemy clusters mere yards from his position. His voice a beacon above the screams of war. When his radio was destroyed, he braved ‘no man’s land’ to reestablish contact.
After patching himself up with torn cloth, he refused medical evacuation. The enemy closed in around his hilltop command post. Schowalter galvanized his men, directing close-quarters defense while calling for air strikes and reinforcements.
Hours stretched into a nightmare marathon. He fought with rifle, pistol, and sheer force of will.
Finally, his orders and bravery turned the tide. His company repelled multiple assaults, inflicted massive casualties, and held their ground until relief arrived.
Recognition
For this display of valor under hellish conditions, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor. His citation spoke plainly:
"First Lieutenant Schowalter’s indomitable fighting spirit, personal bravery, and devoted leadership reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."
His company commander later recalled:
“Schowalter did the impossible. He was wounded but never quit. When we thought all was lost, he was the spark that kept us alive.”[1]
This medal was not a trophy but a sacred reminder of the price exacted on those ridges far from home.
Legacy & Lessons
Schowalter’s fight wasn’t about glory. It was about the men beside him. Holding ground at all costs, bearing wounds seen and unseen. He lived the truth Paul wrote:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
He carried his scars back into civilian life with the same quiet dignity, never boasting, always remembering those who never made it home.
What Schowalter teaches us is brutal and pure: In the darkest moments, faith and grit merge into something unbreakable. Leadership is sacrifice, not comfort. Heroism is the refusal to yield when your flesh screams to surrender.
The ridge at Hoengsong was soaked in blood and cold that day. But more than blood was spilled—there, courage was baptized.
To follow Schowalter’s path is to walk through fire and come out crucified yet unbowed.
His story is a battle hymn for every soldier who takes the line, every veteran carrying silent wounds, every civilian wrestling with sacrifice and purpose.
The fight is real. The scars run deep. But so does the hope that redemption waits beyond the endless night.
Sources
[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War – First Lieutenant Edward R. Schowalter Jr.” [2] “Valor in Combat: The Story of Edward Schowalter,” American Veterans Magazine. [3] Department of Defense, “Award Citations for Korean War Medal of Honor Recipients.”
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