Edward R. Schowalter Jr., the Wounded Hero of Outpost Harry

Dec 13 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr., the Wounded Hero of Outpost Harry

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood in the midst of chaos, bullets ripping the air, the ground soaked with blood and smoke. His face was a mask of grit, jaw clenched, eyes burning with fury and iron will. Wounded — badly — he refused to fall back. Around him, the frozen hills of Korea swirled with enemy forces screaming for his destruction. But Ed Schowalter was not done. He led with every fiber of his being, embodying the heart of a warrior untouched by fear.

Roots of Resolve

Born in 1927, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. grew up deeply grounded in a simple code: stand for what is right, no matter the cost. Raised in a modest American household, his faith and family forged his backbone. The prayers whispered before battle, the Psalm 23 verses etched in his soul, became his refuge. Faith was not a convenience—it was armor.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” he lived these words before the war called him.

Before Korea, Schowalter cut his teeth in World War II’s waning days. A young artillery officer, he sharpened himself on the anvil of combat. Discipline was his creed. Leadership was a burden he bore proudly.

The Battle That Defined Him: Outpost Harry, June 1953

The war in Korea dragged toward a frozen stalemate by ’53. But the fight for Outpost Harry was no mere standoff. It was hell incarnate. Positioned high in the mountains near the 38th parallel, this outpost was a lynchpin. Holding it meant life or death for men all along the line.

On June 10, 1953, Schowalter’s artillery battery came under relentless assault by a massive Chinese infantry force. The enemy assault came in waves—overwhelming numbers, unrelenting pressure. Schowalter himself was wounded early in the fight, a bullet ripping through his shoulder and chest.

Many would have withdrawn. Not Schowalter.

Bleeding and battered, he crawled through the shattered trenches. What might have broken lesser men only steeled him. He coordinated counter-battery fire, adjusted artillery rounds in the dark, and rallied his scattered men. His voice cut through the cacophony—a beacon of command and courage.

His actions were more than leadership. They were defiance incarnate. Schowalter refused to let the enemy take the position. He moved from man to man, calling out encouragement and orders. His presence — even weak, wounded — held the line together.

The fighting lasted through the night. With the dawn came the bitter realization: the enemy had not broken their defense. Not because they had numbers or firepower. Because Edward R. Schowalter Jr. refused to let go.

Recognition Etched in Bronze and Valor

For this heroic stand, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor—the highest U.S. military decoration for valor in combat—issued in 1954. His citation described how he “exhibited gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty.” His leadership directly saved his unit from destruction.

“Illumined by his example, his men held firm against overwhelming forces,” his commanding officers wrote.

His wounds told a silent story—a soldier who absorbed damage for his men to survive. But it was his spirit, not his scars, they praised. Generals and grunts alike knew Schowalter’s brand of courage was rare.

Legacy of Valor and Redemption

Edward Schowalter’s story is not the story of war’s glory, but its price. It is the blood on the soil, the grit in the mud, the silent prayers whispered as darkness falls. His sacrifice reminds us: courage is not the absence of fear, but action in its face.

His life continues to echo in the halls of military academies and the hearts of soldiers. His leadership exemplifies that true command means bearing the burden yourself first — wounded, tired, but unbroken.

In the crucible of combat, Schowalter found his purpose. The scars he carried were a testament—not just to battle, but to redemption.

“He keeps us alive in memory—soldiers who dare to stand when all seems lost.”

Faith and valor cross the same battlefield. Edward Schowalter’s legacy teaches something profound: a man can be broken and still lead, wounded yet unyielding. There is a sacred calling in sacrifice—and in that calling lies the truest honor.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

His fight was never just for ground or glory. It was for the hope of a tomorrow where courage still lives, and sacrifice never fades into silence.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War, 1954. 2. Charles M. Bussey, Battleline Korea: Outpost Harry, 1982. 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Official Citation: Edward R. Schowalter Jr.