Press Release:
he Perdido Key Chamber will host a celebration in honor of African-American War Hero Private Rosamond Johnson Saturday, May 7th beginning at 9 a.m. at the Star Pavilion on Johnson’s Beach in Perdido Key. Keynote speaker and Pensacola mayor Ashton Hayward will speak in commemoration of Private Johnson’s heroism during the Korean War. The celebration is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.
After joining the military when he was just 15 years old, Private Rosamond Johnson, Jr. was killed on July 26, 1950 at the age of 17 during the Korean Conflict. Having carried two wounded men to safety under enemy fire, he was killed going back to save a third, becoming the first Escambia County resident to die in the conflict. Johnson posthumously received the Purple Heart on August 21, 1950, and veteran groups continue their efforts to this day to seek additional military honors for him.
Segregation was a common practice in our area during the Korean War era, and it extended to the local beaches. Among the few beaches open to African-Americans during that time was Rosamond Johnson Beach on Perdido Key, now a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
A permanent monument in Johnson’s honor was erected at Johnson Beach on June 10, 1996. Guest speaker, retired Army Maj. Gen. Mike Ferguson of Pensacola and the Veterans of Under Aged Military Service, said the real heroes of the war—those who make the ultimate sacrifice—can never receive enough recognition. “There is no medal that signifies hero. You couldn’t invent a medal to signify hero,” he said.
The contributions and experiences of African-Americans in Pensacola are a bigger part of our history than many suspect. Theirs is a remarkable tale of contributions and successes in the face of constant struggles and overwhelming obstacles. To help commemorate the life of Rosamond Johnson and to celebrate the event, Local artist Sonja Griffin Evans, owner of Gumbo Gallery in historic Belmont and Devilliers near downtown Pensacola, created a commemorative painting to honor Private Rosamond Johnson.