Edward Schowalter Jr., Korean War leader who earned the Medal of Honor

Jan 07 , 2026

Edward Schowalter Jr., Korean War leader who earned the Medal of Honor

Edward Schowalter Jr. bled hot iron that day in Korea. Wounded, outnumbered, and facing annihilation, he didn’t falter. He stood. Guns blazing, voice hoarse with grit, he carved a path through the enemy’s swarm. Men screamed around him. Death loomed. But he did what a leader must—hold the line no matter the cost. That moment blood-soaked his soul forever.

Roots of a Warrior

Born in 1927, Edward Roy Schowalter Jr. was forged in the American heartland—Alton, Illinois. The quiet town bred its own kind of steel: silent, unwavering, destined for trials beyond the cornfields. He enlisted following World War II, answering the call without hesitation. No fanfare. No parades. Just a man with a code stamped in his marrow.

Faith was his anchor. The Scriptures’ whisper haunted him like a promise, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9). He carried this certainty into battles others would call hell. It was no empty comfort—it was fuel. Through every firefight, every freezing night on the Korean Peninsula, that quiet conviction drove him to lead, protect, and fight.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 22, 1951, near the town of Munsan-ni—this is where heroism burned its deepest mark. Schowalter was then a first lieutenant, commanding Company F, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

The Chinese launched an overwhelming assault in force. Enemy troops swarmed from every side. Schowalter’s position was critical—if lost, the flank would collapse, the entire line in peril.

Wounded early by a grenade blast that tore through his arm and exposed bone, Schowalter refused evacuation. Ignoring searing pain, he rallied his men. With his left hand clutching an M1 rifle, he directed fire, redistributed ammo, and sent reinforcements into the fray.

When an enemy soldier breached the perimeter, Schowalter engaged him in brutal hand-to-hand combat, killing the attacker with his bare hands despite weakened strength. Every inch mattered. Every second was a fight for survival.

In a final act of desperation, wounded multiple times and nearly spent, Schowalter led a counterattack to reclaim lost ground. His orders sliced through the chaos, steadying the men like a battle-hardened prophet.

By dawn, the enemy was repelled. Schowalter’s company held the line against staggering odds. His actions saved countless lives and prevented a tactical rout.

Decorations and Hard-Earned Praise

For this relentless courage under fire, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor—the military’s highest tribute. The citation spelled out his unwavering defiance in the teeth of death:

“Despite painful wounds, First Lieutenant Schowalter led his men in an aggressive defense... displayed heroic leadership and courage... decisively repulsing repeated enemy attacks, thereby saving his company.”

Fellow officers recalled his gritty tenacity. Colonel James Murray, commanding officer of the 7th Infantry Division, called Schowalter’s conduct “an unforgettable example of battlefield leadership.”

A comrade spoke simply but with weight—“He fought like a cornered lion. We followed because we had to.”

Legacy Etched in Sacrifice

Schowalter’s story is a raw lesson in war’s brutal calculus. Courage isn’t just charging forward—it’s holding when every instinct screams to run. It’s lace-soaked sacrifice: scars worn not as trophies, but as testimony.

His faith, unshaken through fire and blood, reminds us that even amidst the darkest valley, purpose can spring eternal. The wounds he bore were physical, but his true battle was for his men’s lives and the ideals bigger than himself.

To veterans wearing their own scars—visible or hidden—Schowalter’s example demands humility and respect. To civilians, it burns a solemn truth: freedom’s cost is paid in human flesh and will.

“But the LORD stood with me and gave me strength...” (2 Timothy 4:17)

Edward Schowalter’s voice echoes across decades—not just as a soldier’s tale but as a call to stand when surrender beckons. In his scars lies redemption’s grit. In his story, the timeless legacy of those who walk the blood-darkened fields so others may live free.