Life in the sand

(202)782-8880
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
ATTN: SFC Bartholomew
Ward 68
6900 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20307

Thanks, Jim

Hello again:

I am in lots of pain today. I had the surgery for my side, and I have to have it again tomorrow. They have to clean the wound and it requires surgery. The recovery will probobly be about a year. but it should be 100%. Mcmullen is here now and I am trying to see him or talk to him. I will be going to Walter Reed Friday.

Jim

I just wanted to give everybody a status update. The surgeon here in Germany just looked at my wounds and told me that I would be going home on the plane to the US on Friday if there was room for me. My hip/butt wound is the worse one, and it needs to be changed twice a day.

I would ask that everone pray for my driver and friend Michael McMullen as he continues to recover. He had the worst injuries of all of us, and he will need all the help we can give him. He is still in Iraq, and will be moved to Germany when he is stable enough. I will try to get info on how we can help him and his family out.

SGT Divel was flown to San Antonio Texas and is going to the burn unit there. SPC Cabbell is back in Arif Jan.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support, and I will keep everyone in touch
Love,
Jim

Hello:

If you havent heard yet I had an interesting Christmas Eve. My convoy had just left our base in Iraq. About five minutes later we heard a loud explosion. I found out on the radio that the next American truck in front of me was hit by an IED. The soldiers in the truck said they were burning. My driver and [I] grabbed the medic bag and ran to the truck. My driver helped the first soldier and rolled him over and put out the fire on him. I assisted the other soldier out of the truck. We then started to treat the burnt soldier.

At this time a second IED went off to my right. We were all hit with shrapnel. The burnt soldier was not [hit] too hard by this IED. The second soldier from the first truck was hit by shrapnel on her right side. She was released from the hospital today. My driver was hit the worst by shrapnel in his lower back. He lost his spleen and some vertabrae. It looks like he is going to make it.

I was hit by shraptnel all the way down my left side. My cheek, my arm, my heel, and worse of all my buttocks area. I had a large peice that had to be removed by surgery. The amazing thing is that no vital areas were hit on my body. All of your thoughts and prayers have paid off for me and my driver.

It looks like I will be going to Germany, [then,] most likely, Maryland. I should have internet access in these areas. I [was] also interviewed by world news tonight and good morning America.

I will keep everyone posted,
Love,
Jim

Hi Everyone,

Michelle got word from Iraq at about 3:00 a.m. EST that an I.U.D. went off while Jim was on a mission. The I.U.D. went off when the car in front of Jim was passing by. Jim and his driver (I'm sorry - I don't know his name) then went to the aide of the soldiers in that car. While they were administering first aide, a second device went off and hit Jim's driver and Jim. Jim is O.k. He evidently has a lot of shrapnel (spelling?) wounds and will most likely be transfered to Germany. His driver took a direct hit and is not doing well at all. Please pray for him.

Jim spoke to Michelle directly and Michelle also spoke to his nurse. If Jim will need to be in the
hospital for more than a month, he will most likely be sent stateside. Otherwise, he will be in Germany.

We will update you as soon as we know more. Also, Jim was interviewed by Nightline and Good
Morning America, so you may want to watch those shows. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Sandy (Bartholomew) Adams

Everyone:

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I am on the road delivering needed supplies to our troops. I do not know exactly where I will be on Christmas day, but I am sure I will get a nice meal. I have already opened many packages and gifts, and they all have been appreciated.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you
Jim

Posted by Jim G. for Jimmy B.

Hello again:

   I am writing this email the fastest I have written a second one.  I now have internet in the office I am using, so it is a little easier to email everyone.  I have been doing evaluations on most of my soldiers for the last week or so.  This is a fun process because no one really has the correct format down, so we get to do them over and over again.  So yes I am looking forward to getting on the road again.  The higher ups now want me to go out on all convoys.  I will gladly do this, but I am sure this will change again.

   Thanksgiving and Christmas have been interesting over here.  Most soldiers either try to enjoy them, or they jusy ignore them.  Thanksgiving meal was very good, but the turke was not fresh, and I missed fresh bread.  Everyone has been getting lots of packages from friends, relatives, and from people we don't even know.

   I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas, and remember your loved ones and your freedom!

                                       Love,
                                        Jim