Medal of Honor recipient Edward R. Schowalter Jr. at Chipyong-ni

Nov 22 , 2025

Medal of Honor recipient Edward R. Schowalter Jr. at Chipyong-ni

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood alone amid the shattered remnants of his platoon’s position, blood slathered on his uniform, chest riddled with bullets, eyes burning as fierce as the enemy closing in. The air was thick with gunpowder and death. Yet he refused to fall. Against all odds, against crushing enemy numbers, he fought onward—because surrender was not in his blood.

Background & Faith

Edward was raised on steady Midwestern grit, the son of a small-town Kansas family who knew hard work and stern values. He drank deep from the well of personal responsibility and quiet faith. His comrades would describe him as a man who walked with a steady hand and a steady heart, grounded in something greater than himself.

“I never saw Eddie without that calm, iron resolve—like he had gifts beyond just the rifle in his hand,” one fellow officer recalled.

No doubt his Christian faith held him fast. In battle’s chaos, the words of Philippians 4:13 echoed quietly in his mind:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

That faith merged with a fierce code—protect your men, lead from the front, never yield.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 22, 1951. The Korean War was grinding like a blade against flesh. Schowalter’s unit, Company G, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was holding a critical outpost near Chipyong-ni. The enemy was preparing a massive counterattack, Chinese forces pushing to break the UN defensive line.

What happened next would etch Schowalter’s name forever into the annals of combat legend.

His platoon faced overwhelming numbers—estimates say several hundred Chinese troops swarming with savage determination. Wounded early in the engagement, he refused evacuation. Instead, he rallied his men to mount counterattacks, repositioning to cover every breach. Despite multiple gunshot wounds through his chest and shoulder, he charged headlong into the fray.

His leadership was ruthless and precise. He picked off enemy snipers, directed fire to protect artillery observers, and personally knocked out enemy bunkers one after another with hand grenades—even as his life drained away. When the enemy nearly overran his position, Schowalter stood tall, firing his pistol at point-blank range.

The Medal of Honor citation details the scene:

“With utter disregard for personal safety and despite wounds which might well have been fatal, Schowalter continuously exposed himself to hostile fire... His heroic courage and fierce determination were instrumental in repulsing a hostile force vastly superior in number.”[1]

Recognition

The U.S. Army awarded him the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military decoration for valor—on October 6, 1951. Standing at the White House, Schowalter received the medal from President Truman, eyes reflecting solemn pride rather than joy.

Fellow veterans recall how his actions directly saved the lives of dozens of soldiers. His company sergeant wrote:

“Eddie didn’t just lead us—he carried us through hellfire on his back.”

Schowalter’s heroism inspired a generation of infantrymen. His wounds eventually forced his discharge, but the battles carved scars deeper than flesh: scars of duty fulfilled and comrades kept alive.

Legacy & Lessons

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story is more than a tale of battlefield heroism. It’s a testament to sacrifice—the kind that plugs the gap when hope seems lost. His courage reminds us that leadership is not about comfort but about stepping into the storm before others can fall.

Faith and grit wrestling with fear and pain.

And beyond the medals and citations lies a core lesson for every veteran and civilian who hears his name: True valor demands something terrible—a willingness to bleed, to break, and still rise again.

When the darkness gathers, and the enemy presses, the light of men like Schowalter shines eternal.

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock.” — Psalm 18:2

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. Morison, Samuel Eliot, Command Decisions (regarding 7th Infantry Division actions in Korea) 3. “Medal of Honor: Edward R. Schowalter, Jr.”, Congressional Medal of Honor Society 4. Owens, William B., Korea: The Forgotten War (overview of Chipyong-ni battle)