Life in the sand

Jim's new contact information

2006-01-03T10:44:00.000-05:00

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

Thanks, Jim

In pain today. Walter Reed on Friday...

2005-12-28T22:38:00.000-05:00

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

Keep praying...

2005-12-27T20:19:00.000-05:00

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

New email from Jimmy...

2005-12-26T21:58:00.000-05:00

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

Jim hurt in Iraq, but he is going to be OK...

2005-12-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

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

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-24T22:06:00.000-05:00

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

Old Turkey and Reviews...

2005-12-12T16:15:00.000-05:00

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

In Kuwait and missing home!

2005-12-07T18:18:00.000-05:00

I am posting this for Jimmy B. -Jim Garner

Everyone:

   I am Kuwait, and I just finished up another mission.  Our drop off point was the airport in Bagdhad.  I did not buy a ticket home, and I did not offer to work a flight either.  Everything was safe, and we went back to Kuwait.  I am going between leading missions to Iraq and controlling 45 soldiers in the rear and all of the paper work that goes with it.  I have gotten tons of packages, and they are all appreciated.

   I have now been here for four months(today), but who's counting?  I miss a lot of the simple things like not have to walk a quarter of a mile to go to the bathroom.  I also miss:

not standing in line to eat
driving a CAR
radio
TV
PRIVACY
clean bathrooms
hotel rooms at my overnights not cots
a real day off
good food
my real job

   Of course I miss Michelle and Michael and all of my family and friends. But overall I am doing very well mentally and physically.  There is nothing like leading soldiers into battle and completing your mission!

                            I will try to email more often,
                                       Jim

Sad loss for the 243rd EN Co in Iraq

2005-10-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

Jimmy has written to many to let them know that 3 soldiers were killed on the 14th, in Iraq.

Jimmy is OK.

...But he and his comrades need our prayers and support right now, as do those families of the soldiers that died.

Jimmy, we all think of you everyday and will rejoice when you return. Our hearts are heavy about this and our prayers will continue for you, and those close to the terrible loss. Please let us know how we might help with cards, gifts or money to those families. If I can get more info, I will post it here.

Jim Garner for Jimmy B.

On the road again

2005-09-03T08:58:00.000-04:00

Hey:

The land of the sand is not treating me too badly right now. I have been on the road 14 of 16 days and this good. Too much BS at the home base. Nothing on top of your locker no shelves allowed ect. ect. We prefer the road and the enemy! It has been safe for my group so far, and hopefully that continues.

Everyone wants to know what we need. Right now if you would like to send me something just send it to the New Orleans area for people who desperately need it. If you want to send me something later on I am in a truck all day and the truck stops are closed! Things that you can eat on the go that won't melt are good. Cans with pop tops are good and other snacks.

It's almost football season and all of you have to root for the Redskins for me. I will try to designate someone to tape me the games and send to me.

Thanks for all of the prayers, letters, and packages.

Jim

In Iraq

2005-08-23T02:24:00.000-04:00

Hello again:

I am in Iraq today on my first mission. The internet access at my Kuwait base has been very limited. I usually don't have time to respond to most of them due to time restraints. It is very hot here, but the worst thing is the constant dry mouth, and the sand in every part of your body. We also get hot showere with no cold water. It looks like it will be easier to have internet time when I am on missions than when I am in Kuwait. Hopefully I can write more often.

Jim

Almost There

2005-08-04T10:58:00.000-04:00

Just a few more days and I will be in Kuwait. We were able to get a two day pass, and Michelle and Michael were able to come see me. We are just relaxing in the hotel. Once I get in country I will be able to tell everybody what we need and what is happening.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Jim

A first report...

2005-08-01T11:32:00.000-04:00

I have copied a recent email from Jimmy, below:
-------------------

Everyone:

    I would like to thank everyone for their support.  All of the emails,
letters, packages, thoughts and prayers have been very helpful.

    Some of you do not even know me very well so I will tell you about my
job here.  I am a Platoon Sergeant of a 45 person truck platoon.  I had
never met any of these soldiers until about two months ago, and some of them
have never even driven a tracktor trailor before(including myself).  All of
us have been working very hard.  My average day is about 16 hours.  We have
had 4 days off in the two months we have been here.  The good news is that I
feel confident in my men, and that I feel that we can accomplish all of our
missions as safely as possible.

    I will try to send group emails as much as I can.  My schedule should
be getting better in the near future.  Please feel free to send this email
to anyone that would like it.

My address in Kuwait is

SFC Bartholomew
243rd EN CO
Camp Arifjan Kuwait
APO AE 09366

Jim

Open for Blogging

2005-07-05T14:29:00.000-04:00

This is the place where Jimmy B will post from the road in Iraq.