Train Victim Known by Many Names

James Adams seemed to have a different nickname for every stage of his life. To childhood friends, he was called Jimmy. To his nephew, he was Uncle Jim. To a group of memorabilia collectors who Adams knew and traded with, he was known as "Grizzly". Most recently, among the homeless friends he gained living on the streets of Fredericksburg, he was simply known as "Big Jim".

It was by these any one of these names that people spoke of Adams at a small memorial service yesterday in his honor. But no matter what one may have called Adams, all agreed that at age 59, this man was taken from the world too soon and too suddenly.

Adams' 44 year-old nephew and closest surviving relative Mike Burgess fondly recalled watching football and going fishing with the man he called Uncle Jim. 

"He was very kind hearted," said Burgess, repeating a refrain oft heard throughout the memorial service held in the shadow of the rail overpass upon which Adams drew his last breath. "Despite his big mountain man appearance…he had a soft spot for a lot of things."

Burgess estimated that Adams had been homeless for perhaps a year, maybe less.  He had worked in the construction trades throughout most of his life following his time in the Army during the Vietnam War, but the recession had taken a big bite out of business over the last few years, forcing him from one shared living arrangement to the next, until one day sometime last year Adams found himself living on the streets. Working with a friend named Mike Phillips, Adams continued to land the odd construction job here and there. The money was enough for Adams to afford a monthly gym membership which he used to take showers and exercise. 

The memorial service was organized by members of the Fredericksburg homeless community who had come to know Adams at his lowest. A wooden cross, American and military flags, a pair of soldier boots standing at eternal attention. 

Fredericksburg resident Tommy Foster, who has been homeless for a number of years, remembered Adams' kindness and generosity as others did: overflowing. 

"He was one of the nicest people you've ever met," said Foster. "He'd do anything for you. If he had money in his pocket, if you needed a few dollars, he'd give it to you…he was like a gentle giant. 

Stafford resident Preston Thompson went to school with Adams from the eighth grade through their senior year at Stafford High School. Thompson says the two were inseparable. 

"If you saw one of us, you saw both of us," said Thompson, who hadn't seen Adams since 1969. When he heard the news of his childhood friends death he says he cried. "I just felt kind of sorrowful."

"I figured he had a couple of kids and some grandkids, living out in the country somewhere and life was good to him," said Thomspon. "I had no idea hard times had befallen him. If I had known, I would have tried to help him go straight." 

Thompson says that Adams didn't have a mean bone in his body, and didn't "keep score", always willing to help those around him. 

Faye Hicks, another local resident who grew up on the same street as Adams said she was shocked to learn of her childhood friend's homelessness. She too related stories of a kind hearted man who seemed to drop off the radar after his military career. 

Spotsylvania resident Jack Batt knew Adams from memorabilia and trading card swaps held in the area. He developed a tight bond with Adams, despite only knowing him through their mutual interests in collecting trading cards. Adams never discussed his time in Vietnam with Batt, himself an Army veteran of Vietnam. 

Indeed, not much is definitively known about Adams' time in Vietnam except for some basic facts; that Adams served in the Army, and that he completed two tours of duty. According to Burgess' recollection of family stories, Adams volunteered for the army after drawing a low draft number during the height of the Vietnam War. The suddenness of Adams' death, and the lack of readily available information about his service made funeral arrangements a challenge. 

"Unfortunately, my uncle never had a will or made his wishes known," said Burgess. "I had a lot of trouble getting him into Quantico cemetery. They need proof that not only was he a veteran, but that he was honorably discharged." 

He was eventually able to cobble together the needed information. Adams will be buried at Quantico cemetery on July 8 at 11 a.m. with full military honors.