Jan 22 , 2026
Hill 300 hero Edward R. Schowalter Jr. and the Medal of Honor
Blood running. Men falling. Still he stands—alone against the storm.
That’s Edward R. Schowalter Jr. on April 22, 1951, atop Hill 300 in Korea. The air thick with smoke, the silence punctuated by enemy grenades. Wounded nearly to death, he refused to yield. This is a warrior forged in fire—a testament to relentless courage and iron will.
Background & Faith
Born in 1927 in Wichita, Kansas, Edward Schowalter’s roots were Midwestern grit. His upbringing was humble, but underpinned by a steadfast sense of duty. He learned early that honor was not given—it was earned through action. Faith played its part. His belief in a higher purpose, quietly lodged in heart and mind, sustained him.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts.” (Psalm 28:7) This scripture echoed in his soul long before the hell of Korea unleashed.
The Battle That Defined Him
April 22, 1951. The Korean War burned fiercely. Schowalter was 1st Lieutenant, leading G Company, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
Hill 300 was a linchpin. The Chinese pressed in with waves of enemy soldiers, overwhelming force pressing from all sides. Communication lines severed, ammunition running low, and his men battered by constant attack.
Schowalter’s right arm shattered by grenade fragments. Blood seeping through torn uniform. Despite wounds that would have broken most, he refused medical evacuation. Instead, he rallied his platoon, organized defenses, and launched counterattacks.
He climbed onto an exposed tank turret, drawing fire to identify enemy positions. The tank’s turret was his perch—his shield and his weapon platform. Though shot multiple times, he remained upright, directing fire, encouraging weary soldiers.
At one point, with only 15 men left standing from his company, he led a desperate charge. The enemy pressed close—bayonets flashing, grenades exploding. Schowalter fought hand-to-hand, his sheer will refusing collapse.
“Their courage held, but it was our leader’s spirit that kept the line intact,” a comrade later recalled[1].
His last act on that hill before evacuation was to order the unit to pull back in an organized retreat, preserving lives over futile sacrifice.
Recognition: Medal of Honor
President Harry Truman awarded Schowalter the Medal of Honor on July 5, 1951, mere months after his heroics. The citation called his actions “above and beyond the call of duty”:
“Despite wounds, Lieutenant Schowalter personally directed the defense of his unit, displaying gallantry and intrepidity in action against an overwhelming attacking enemy force.”
His leadership saved countless lives that day. The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest symbol of valor—earned in blood and grit.
Leaders who served alongside him spoke of his unwavering calm in chaos.
Major General James H. Polk, 7th Infantry Division commander, said:
“Schowalter embodied what it meant to lead from the front. His name became synonymous with courage.”[2]
Legacy & Lessons
Edward R. Schowalter’s story is not just about one man against the odds. It is the blueprint of sacrifice—the cost of freedom etched in flesh and steel.
His scars were more than wound marks. They were lessons—etched deep in his soul and passed on to every soldier who followed.
True courage, he showed us, is not the absence of fear. It is the choice to stand firm when every heartbeat screams to run.
His battle on Hill 300 stands as a spiritual crossroad—where human frailty met divine strength.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” (Joshua 1:9)
Schowalter’s legacy calls each of us to fight our own darkness with the same fierce resolve.
The battlefield is not behind him—it marches inside every veteran who carries scars unseen.
Edward R. Schowalter Jr. bled on that hill so others could live free. His story demands we remember the cost.
And in remembering, honor the invisible wars still waged—for redemption, for peace, for hope.
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. James H. Polk, 7th Infantry Division Historical Report, 1951
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