Heritage of Valor in Korea by J. Bolling Williamson ’60, Contributing Writer
The Korean War, which lasted from September 1950 until the armistice was signed in July 1953, saw VMI alumni continue the tradition of distinguished service in the armed forces. Several held positions of high responsibility, among them U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Walton Walker ’909 who commanded the 8th Army; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Edward M. Almond ’915 who commanded X Corps; U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. ’917 who commanded Fleet Marine Forces-Pacific; and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Clark Ruffner ’924, who commanded the 2nd Infantry Division. Two of these men – Almond and Ruffner – earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s highest award for valor.
“Conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty ...” Edward R. Schowalter Jr. ’51 Certainly, no one distinguished himself more than U.S. Army Col. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. ’51 who earned the Medal of Honor. Commanding a rifle company in the 31st Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in October 1952, Schowalter ’51 then-Lt. Schowalter’s company was designated the assault company on one particular day and was moving forward toward the assigned objective. One soldier in his company gave an account as follows: “The attack for a moment was at a standstill, but our company commander spurred us on. A sniper’s bullet smacked into his helmet, leaving Lt. Schowalter’s face streaked with blood. … He continued to yell encouragement to us ... Grenades were exploding everywhere. One landed and exploded right beside Lt. Schowalter, inflicting a wound in his right side, but still he didn’t stop. When a medic offered him aid, he refused … [and] charged on, firing his pistol with his left hand and throwing grenades with the other.” The citation for Schowalter’s Medal of Honor reads, in part: “… Refusing medical aid, he led his men into the trenches and began routing the enemy from the bunkers with 2014-Issue 1
grenades. Suddenly, from a burst of fire from a hidden cave off the trench, he was again wounded. Although suffering from his wounds, he refused to relinquish command and continued issuing orders and encouraging his men until the commanding ground was secured, and then he was evacuated.” Schowalter was hospitalized for nine months and remained on active duty following his release.
“For Extraordinary Heroism …” The following six alumni earned the Distinguished Service Cross or the Navy Cross – the highest decoration for valor awarded by the Army and the Naval Service, respectively.
Edward M. Almond ’915 When he was a U.S. Army major general, Edward M. Almond ’915 was named commander of the amphibious invasion at Inchon in September 1950. Following
the landing, his X Corps liberated Seoul – the capital of South Korea – and then moved into North Korea, reaching the Chosin Reservoir in December where they battled a number Almond ’915 of divisions of the Chinese army before withdrawing to the coast. In 1951, X Corps moved onto the defensive line with elements of the 8th Army. Almond was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in May 1951. His citation noted that he distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces during the massive offensive by three known Communist armies. On one occasion while on aerial reconnaissance, he observed enemy forces forward of a friendly tank patrol. He ordered the plane landed and, disregarding hostile machine-gun fire, directed tank fire onto
Vietnam and a Silver Star Schowalter went on to serve two tours in Vietnam, where he earned a Silver Star and another Purple Heart. In January 1968, he was advising an armored cavalry unit which became bogged down fighting enemy forces in the city of My Tho. Schowalter moved up and down the column, urging the troops to advance, to no avail. The citation for his Silver Star noted that he then began walking alone down a street which was completely dominated by enemy fire: “Col. Schowalter was 75 meters up the street, completely without cover of any kind, still urging the [troop] carriers and infantry to follow him and close with the enemy. Suddenly, he was struck with small-arms fire and fragments in the neck, arms and chest. His example caused the infantry to attack and reach the position where he had fallen …” Schowalter retired in 1977. He was the seventh alumnus to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
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