Dec 24 , 2025
Edward Schowalter's Courage at Hill 111 in the Korean War
Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood alone atop a shattered ridge, blood pouring from wounds that should have ended him. The enemy swarmed like wolves from every side. His radio was silent. His men looked to him—not for safety, but for battle. In that crucible, he refused to yield. No surrender. No retreat. Only the iron will to stand and fight.
Background & Faith
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1927, Edward Schowalter carried a Southern grit tempered by strong family values and Baptist faith. Raised in a house where honor was spoken louder than words, he learned early that courage was forged in discipline, and life was meant to serve something greater than self.
Before Korea, Schowalter served as an Army paratrooper and combat infantryman in World War II. Combat hardened, yet his compass was religious conviction—an unyielding belief in a higher purpose, a silent prayer beneath the roar of artillery.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
His leadership emerged not from rank alone, but from a code: Lead from the front. Protect your men. Fight with honor.
The Battle That Defined Him
March 7, 1953. Near Kumhwa, Korea. The 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was tasked with holding a critical hill—Hill 111—against a ferocious Chinese People’s Volunteer Army attack. Schowalter, now a captain, commanded Company A.
The enemy came in waves. Mortar fire shredded the air. His men were cut down. Communications lost. But Schowalter did not flinch. Wounded—multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds—he dragged himself from foxhole to foxhole, rallying, directing, holding the line.
His Medal of Honor citation reads:
“Captain Schowalter’s indomitable fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty contributed immeasurably to the successful defense of the position.”
Despite grave wounds, he refused evacuation. He exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire to organize his defense, kill enemy soldiers, and inspire survivors amid chaos.
His leadership bought time for reinforcements to arrive. Under his watch, the ridge held.
Recognition & Brotherhood
The Medal of Honor arrived weeks later. Schowalter’s citation stood out—not just for heroism, but for sacrificial command under fire, the blood of combat spilling in every line.
General William Dean, a towering figure in Army history, said of Schowalter:
“Few men show the steel it takes to carry a wounded body shrouded in enemy fire to save a position. Captain Schowalter did more than hold ground; he held honor.”
Brothers in arms remember him as a lion among men—unyielding, humble, a man who never let battlefield glory blind him to the scars of war. He spoke often in later years about the burden of survival and the invisible wounds carried home.
Legacy & Lessons
Edward Schowalter’s story is more than a war narrative. It is a lesson engraved in courage and sacrifice. He embodies the soldier’s truth: the fight is not always for glory, but for the men beside you and the righteousness of the cause.
He battled physical wounds and deeper, spiritual battles—questioning, seeking redemption. His faith was not a shield from pain, but a candle in the dark, guiding him through regret and hope alike.
Veterans know this battlefield: the war within. Schowalter’s life reminds us that true valor takes root in humility and faith.
His sacrifice echoes across decades, a call to courage in a world too often comfortable with silence.
The line holds—because men like Schowalter refused to break.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” — 2 Timothy 1:7
A reminder to every soldier and citizen: the battlefield is many places, but the fight for honor and redemption never ends.
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. Blair, Clay, The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953, Naval Institute Press 3. U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, 17th Infantry Regiment Combat Reports 4. Dean, William F., The White Tiger: My World War II, University Press of Kansas
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