On October 21, Bartholomay would lose his life delivering information that would be used to destroy an enemy battalion. Due to this heroic action, Bartholomay was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He would be 1 of 4,588 men of the 96th Infantry Division to also receive the same reward.

"Pfc. Bartholomay was a member of an artillery forward observer party attached to an infantry assault battalion. When the party came under intense artillery fire from an enemy battery which was also causing damage to our supplies on the beach and seriously hampering unloading operations, he remained at his post transmitting information which resulted in neutralization of the enemy battalion. Pfc. Bartholomay's heroic devotion to duty cost him his life."