James Francis Adamouski

West Point, 1995

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Kate Karwan Burgess on January 1, 2009:

Dear Jimmy, Your passing has impacted me more than I can adequately explain in words. As you know we were more good acquaintances and colleagues than close friends, but I consider you a friend nevertheless. I remember watching you play soccer at West Point, running into you at the Firstie Club, and hanging out at parties in flight school. I remember walking the halls of the 3ID Aviation Brigade at Hunter AAF, to visit you down in the battalion S3 shop. It was always a pleasure working with you no matter what crummy tasking I was passing down from Brigade. After we took care of business, we usually ended up chatting about other things. I admit to wandering down the hall just to take a break and socialize. You were always kind and respectful to me as a person, a woman, and as a cadet/soldier. I really really appreciated that. You gave everyone a fair shake, and were always great to talk to. You and Meighan came to my then boyfriend, now husband's Christmas party in 2001. I remember you didn't stay long, you had other parties to attend, but it was nice to have you both come even for a short while. Now out of the Army, I have visited Arlington several times over the last few years for a long-term photography project I am working on. The first time I went after your death I looked for your grave, but your head stone was not in place yet. The second time I visited it was there. As I walked towards your headstone, and I saw your name chiseled in stone I found myself overcome with emotion and burst into tears. Your presence there has made my project that much more emotional and important for me to finish. I think part of the reason why your death has struck me so hard is that in an unpredictable way my actions may possibly have contributed to the loss of you. I had made my decision to get out long before 9/11 and long before the kick off of the war, but I still can't help but think that perhaps if I had stayed my presence would have changed something in the space time continuum and you might still be here. Had I stayed in the Army a little longer I would have taken command, and I would have been one of the two company commanders from 2-3 AVN that was deployed to Iraq. Perhaps you may still have been in the S3 shop, perhaps I would have been the one in that helicopter that fateful night, or perhaps it all would have played out just as it did. Who is to know for sure. I know there were a lot of people and things that happened that led to your death, that had absolutely nothing to do with me, and I know it is silly for me to even think such things; it isn't rational, and is more improbable, but in my heart of hearts I can't help it. Your untimely death is such a monumental loss for your family, friends, the Army, and society as a whole. In many ways you were just at the beginning of your life. You were only months into your marriage. I was so happy for you getting into Harvard, and so sad for the cadets that would not get to know you. I often think of you and your family and close friends. I know it is still difficult for them, and I can't imagine what they are really going through. It isn't something you get over, just learn to live with. My friend, you made your mark in the world and on the hearts of many. You are missed. With Love, Kate

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