How Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Held Triangle Hill Under Fire

Feb 22 , 2026

How Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Held Triangle Hill Under Fire

Blood on frozen ground, the enemy poured in like hell’s own flood. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood in that hellstorm—wounded, outnumbered, unyielding. This was no staged war movie pause. This was raw grit, raw sacrifice that demanded every last breath—and then some.

The Blood Runs Through West Point

Born into a disciplined home, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. carried the weight of duty before he ever wore the uniform. A 1946 West Point graduate, he was forged by a crucible of honor drilled deep into his bones. His faith ran quiet and steady beneath the chaos. A devout believer, he carried the cross of conviction alongside his rifle.

Faith grounded him. Not as a shield to ward off fear, but as a compass when every choice was death’s gamble. He lived by a code older than armies: protect your men, stand firm, no surrender—not in body, not in spirit.

The Battle That Defined a Legend – Triangle Hill, Korea

In October 1952, Schowalter, then a Captain in the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, faced a mountain of enemy fire at Triangle Hill, a gauntlet of hell in the Korean War. The Chinese poured wave after wave into defensive trenches blasted bare by artillery. The cold bit through bloodied uniforms.

Despite receiving multiple serious wounds, Schowalter refused to yield an inch. He personally repelled assault after assault, coordinating counterattacks that stalled an overwhelming enemy force. His leadership held the line under crushing pressure, rallying broken men with grit and presence of mind.

He fought not just with muscle but with heart. Every shout, every command was a promise to his men: I have your back, and we stand together—even if it breaks us.*

Valor Inked in Steel and Blood

For his actions during the brutal fight, Schowalter was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation tells a story of perseverance under fire beyond ordinary limits:

“With utter disregard for his safety, he exposed himself repeatedly to intense hostile fire to direct and encourage his men.”

His scars weren’t just flesh deep—they were marks of a leader who became a bastion in the chaos.

Colonel Richard W. Van Buskirk, commanding officer of the 31st Infantry, called him:

“One of the finest combat leaders I ever saw… His courage inspired every man in the company.”

These words echo through battlegrounds and barracks alike: courage isn’t given; it is seized amid blood and fire.

The Legacy Etched in Stone and Spirit

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story isn’t just about a single battle. It’s a testament to the warrior’s soul—the sacred burden of leadership in mortal peril. His legacy whispers from every trench, every foxhole where a soldier stood tall against impossible odds.

The lessons burn clear: courage is forged in the furnace of sacrifice. There is no glory without scars. No peace without struggle.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Schowalter’s fight resonates beyond Korea. It challenges each of us—veteran or civilian—to wrestle with fear, to embrace responsibility, to find purpose amidst pain.

He did not command for medals or praise. He commanded because men depended on him with their lives. His legacy is a call to bear our own crosses, stand firm in battle—visible or not—and lead where it matters most.

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. is carved into the bedrock of courage. When war whispers its darkest lies, his example screams back: Stand your ground. Fight with all you have. Honor the sacrifice. Press on.