325. Pensacola's First Korean War Casualty 1950

Updated: Mar 25, 2022

Army Private Rosamond Nathaniel Johnson, Jr. was born on May 18, 1933, the son of Alice Lee Houston and Rosamond Johnson Sr. When he was 13-years old his parents split up and to help support his family he decided to leave Washington High School and lie about his age to enlist in the US Army on December 10, 1948. After basic training he was assigned to the predominantly black 24th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Division stationed in Japan as part of the WWII occupying force. But all of that changed drastically at dawn of June 25, 1950 when North Korean attacking troops thrust south of the 38th Parallel. Hard fighting between South Korean troop and the invaders with the US air and naval power supporting them. By July 1st, units of the 25th Division in Japan were being landed and immediately thrust into the fierce fighting. By the 18th, Johnson's regiment and the entire division had joined the fight around the port of Pusan.

Overwhelmed by superior numbers together with a command structure that was caught completely unawares, the American troops struggled desperately to stem the tide. Attempting to adjust from a peacetime army into a full-fledged battle for survival shook most of the young Americans to their core. In the midst of racial allegations of the regiment and what appeared to be an ultimate collapse, Johnson and the 24th Regiment were fighting for their very lives. In a desperate attempt to repel an intense attack near the city of Sangju, their casualties began to mount. Johnson saw two of his comrades badly wounded that needed help as the army was falling back. Johnson selflessly went into harm's way to drag them back to safety. As he attempted to rescue a third he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Thus, Private Rosamond Johnson Jr. of Pensacola, Florida became the city's first to die in the war on July 26, 1950 at the age of 17-years old. His mother was notified at her home at 612 West Belmont Street that her son had been killed. Sadly, Alice was denied the closure of her son's death until April 23, 1952 when his body was finally returned home and buried in Barrancas Cemetery.

Back home during and after the Korean War many of America's African American troops were overlooked for their sacrifices made in the defense of their country. Many of the public beaches were segregated so Pensacola's black citizens chose to frequent Gulf Beach instead. An organization called the Sunset Riding Club leased a section of land there in 1950 for the sole use of our black citizens. After Korea, they renamed it "Johnson's Beach" in honor of Private Rosamond Johnson Jr. Six years later the lease was cancelled however the name had become widely known throughout Pensacola. In 1973, the area officially became a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Rosamond's mother was the daughter of John Houston and Lillie Louise Nicholson (1896-1988). She was born on November 28, 1916 and would pass away 100 years later on August 16, 2017 in Pensacola. She was laid to rest in Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Brent. His brother Richard passed away in 2011 followed by his father in 2017.