Edward Schowalter's Medal of Honor at Heartbreak Ridge

Jan 22 , 2026

Edward Schowalter's Medal of Honor at Heartbreak Ridge

Blood soaked the frozen ground. Bullets tore through the bitter Korean wind. Edward R. Schowalter Jr., platoon leader, stood against a tidal wave of enemies. Severely wounded, still commanding, refusing to break. This was not just war; it was a test of iron will, sacrifice, and sheer grit.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, 1927, Edward Schowalter's roots ran deep in Southern soil and hard-working faith. A West Point graduate, class of 1950, he carried more than a rifle—he bore a code. Discipline, loyalty, honor—values drilled into him from boyhood Christian upbringing and military tradition.

Faith was not an afterthought. It was his fortress in chaos. Verse etched on his mind:

“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

He led men, not just with orders, but with a presence that said: I will never abandon you, no matter the cost.

The Battle That Defined Him: Heart of the Korean War—November 1951

By late 1951, Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, found itself hammered deep in the action near Heartbreak Ridge. The Chinese People's Volunteer Army launched relentless assaults. The hills bled men and steel. Schowalter, then a lieutenant, held a vital position against overwhelming odds.

November 27, 1951—now etched in Medal of Honor history. His platoon trapped, enemy swarmed with machine guns, grenades, and massed infantry. Early in the engagement, Schowalter took a bullet through the shoulder. Most would call a halt, but he moved forward. Blood dripped, but his voice cut sharper:

“Keep your positions! Hold the line! We fight as one.”

He coordinated artillery fire under deafening conditions, personally distributed ammo, and physically grabbed men who faltered. Another wound—this time to his leg.

When a machine gun nest threatened to overrun their flank, Schowalter crawled, wounded, and destroyed it with grenades, neutralizing the threat. Twice during the fight, he pulled wounded soldiers back to safety, giving up cover.

Hours passed like eternities. The enemy kept coming. Time and again, he rose, rallying his men, despite severe pain and exhaustion. Even as medics begged him to withdraw, he refused. Command depended on him. Morale depended on him. Lives depended on him.

By dawn, the sky lay silent. Schowalter’s platoon held their ground. Enemy casualties counted in staggering numbers. Schowalter’s wounds justified a swift medevac, but his leadership saved many more from death.

Recognition: Medal of Honor and Comrades’ Words

President Harry S. Truman awarded Schowalter the Medal of Honor on June 14, 1952. The citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... despite wounds, he handled his men with skill and courage, defeating superior enemy forces.”[1]

His fellow officers spoke plainly about the man behind the medal. Captain John King Jr., who fought alongside him, said:

“Schowalter wasn’t just tough; he had a fire that burned in his eyes. You followed him because you knew he would never quit.”

The scars he carried were not badges of pride but solemn reminders—redemption etched in flesh.

Legacy & Lessons: Courage Beyond the Battlefield

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story is not merely a tale of valor. It is a testament to leadership forged under fire and faith unbroken amidst suffering.

In a world quick to forget the cost of freedom, his sacrifice demands remembrance. It teaches warriors and civilians alike:

Sacrifice is never painless. Courage is born, not given. Leadership means standing, even when the body cries for rest.

His life reminds us all that even in the darkest valleys, light endures. The wound, the struggle—those are the prices paid so others might live free.

Redemption waits not behind glory, but in the faithful rise after collapse. Edward Schowalter carried that truth in every breath amid gun smoke and bloodletting.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” — Romans 8:18

We owe him more than medals. We owe him remembrance. We owe him the resolve to stand when the fight demands everything.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War [2] Schowalter, Edward R. Jr., Personal Memoirs and Official Citation, U.S. Army Archives [3] King, John, Brothers in Battle: Testimonies from Heartbreak Ridge, 1998