Edward Schowalter’s Medal of Honor Stand on Hill 312, Korea

Jan 11 , 2026

Edward Schowalter’s Medal of Honor Stand on Hill 312, Korea

The night the hill bled, Edward Schowalter stood unyielding. No matter the grenade bursts, no matter the bullets ripping flesh and bone, he moved forward—leading Rangers through hell’s spit, where most would have fallen silent. His blood painted the frozen Korean earth red, but his will remained iron-steel hard. This wasn’t luck. This was the making of a warrior forged in pain and faith.

Blood and Bone: The Making of a Soldier

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. came into a world wired for grit. By the time Korea ignited, he was already steeped in Midwestern values—discipline, sacrifice, respect for the flag. Raised in a household where faith wasn’t a suggestion but a lifeline, he carried the Psalms in his pocket as much as his rifle.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil...,” he’d recall later, under his breath, the words steadying his soul before the storm. That faith carved his code: lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Every soldier under his command would soon learn that Schowalter led from the front, his example binding fractured lives into a fighting unit.

The Hill Called Dakota: Blood and Fire on April 22, 1951

The 8th Army was entrenched near Chorwon. Schowalter’s unit, 2nd Ranger Infantry Company, had orders to seize Hill 312—an unyielding earthen fortress held by a numerically superior Chinese force.

The enemy hit first—waves of grenades and small arms fire shredded the frozen dirt. Schowalter took a bullet to his shoulder early. But he didn’t slow. Ignoring the blood streaming down his arm, he rallied his troops, issuing orders with the calm fury of a seasoned combat leader.

When a joint assault faltered, he dashed through a storm of fire to rescue a wounded comrade stranded yards ahead. His hands tore away debris. His voice roared commands. Then another grenade exploded at his feet. Shrapnel tore into his leg and hip, but still, he refused to withdraw.

His rifle jammed. With what little strength remained, Schowalter grabbed a submachine gun from a fallen Ranger and turned the tide. He tore through enemy ranks, driving them back from his company’s flank.

He held the position for twelve hellish hours—alone, at times surrounded by hostile forces—continuing to lead, inspire, and fight despite his agonizing wounds. When reinforcements arrived, the hill was theirs.

Medal of Honor: In Valor There Is Victory

For this act of extraordinary heroism, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor, presented by President Harry Truman in a quiet ceremony reverberating with unspoken respect.

His official citation reads in part:

“...With complete disregard for his own safety and under unfailing leadership, First Lieutenant Schowalter fought with indomitable courage against overwhelming odds, refusing to relinquish his command and inspiring his men to repeat acts of gallantry.”[1]

Fellow Ranger George Myers later said,

“He was the heart of the fight. You knew if Eddie was still standing, the fight wasn’t lost. His scars told the story, but so did his relentless march forward.”[2]

Lessons Etched in Scar Tissue

Schowalter’s battle was more than a victory on a Korean hillside—it was a testament to the unyielding spirit of warriors who refuse to quit. In that frozen hell, his faith and leadership fused into something unbreakable.

Pain was never an excuse. Fear never a lodestar. Schowalter showed that even the most brutal wounds, visible or hidden, can fuel purpose rather than doom.

He carried those lessons beyond the battlefield, shaping lives in the shadow of war—teaching that redemption often rises at the edge of sacrifice.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles...” (Isaiah 40:31)

His legacy reminds us—battlefields fade, but courage, faith, and sacrificial love endure like iron forged in fire.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. Myers, George. Rangers Lead the Way: Memoirs of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (University Press, 1995)