Steve Tidwell Singer/Songwriter

'She's a little bit country...'

Editor's note: As the war in Iraq continues, one local woman tells how it's affecting her life. Shirley Strickland of Judsonia is the fiancee of Steve Tidwell, a White County native who is serving somewhere in Northern Iraq.

There's an old Irish ballad that says, "Love is sweet, when first it's new." For Shirley Strickland and Steve Tidwell of Judsonia, their romance was a new bloom when war broke out in Iraq. Tidwell was activated Feb., 10 and was assigned to the 1123rd Transportation Co., out of Marked Tree. In the months that have followed, their 'new love' has been tested but is proving to be true. This is Shirley's story.

"Steve and I had just begun a new life together November of last year, but that all got put on hold as the military comes first. He was put on a bus at 2 p.m. on Feb. 11 and was on his way to Ft. Polk, La. where he spent eight weeks of combat training before being shipped to the Middle East. "The first time he phoned me from Fort Polk he asked me to marry him.

"Being a city girl, I lived in Memphis and Mississippi for 23 years, and only having lived in Arkansas for a short time, the country life was something brand new to me. I had never been around cattle, horses or chickens until I met Steve. The short time that we did have together, Steve would take me along with him when he fed the animals, bought cattle at the sale barn and I even learned how to rake hay.

"It was not easy especially with winter coming during the time he left, there was plenty to keep me busy around the farm. I had to make sure the animals had plenty of hay and water and gave shots to the cattle that were sick. I had to get out when there was ice and snow on the ground.

Strickland works at Arkansas General Industries and she found it tough to juggle her job and farm chores.

"There was no time after I got off work to go visit, let alone visit my family who still lives in Mississippi, because I only had 1/2 hour of daylight left in which I rushed straight home because there were 24 head of cattle depending on me to feed."

She could never have managed without a lot of help. "I had the love, help and support of Steve's friends, people like Fred Gray and Keith Simmons who were there to help with putting out hay and feeding all the animals, without them, I'd never have gotten through."

Through all the tough times, times when she felt exhausted and pulled in a dozen different directions, Strickland kept focused.

"I did not want Steve to lose everything that he has worked so hard for all his life, his farm, and the love of a woman. I hear from Steve almost on a weekly basis either by phone or by mail. Sometime the letters are far and few between so the phone calls really help get me through this hard times. I didn't hear from Steve for almost 5 weeks after he landed in the Middle East. At least I know, when I hear his voice, he is all right for the time being. Steve says that it hasn't been an easy life in the Middle East for a country boy like him, but would gladly go again if his country ever needed him. He is a very proud man and believes in himself, his abilities as a soldier, and his country.

Besides her love for Tidwell, Strickland developed strong ties to Tidwell's family, particulary his mother Imogene Baxter. Baxter is a tremendous source of strength. "I love Steve's mom for all her love and support and for listening to me on a lot of late night calls," she said.

While Strickland is hauling feed to the cattle and driving to work, Tidwell has different work to do.

"The unit he is assigned to hauls anything from supplies, machinery and ammunition to the troops and it is a dangerous haul daily. The temperatures have reached as high as 149 degrees on top of enduring sand storms on a daily basis. He says that the only relief from the sand storms is to wet a towel and wrap it around your head. There is sand everywhere. Since the temperatures get so high during the day it makes the temperatures during the morning hours unbearable. It might be 1 am before he could get to sleep. Most of the time he sleeps outside, under the stars, on a cot beside his vehicle.

When he's not on duty, Tidwell is much in demand to entertain his fellow troops.

"Everyone who knows Steve knows about his knack for writing songs. He happened to have lucked up on a guitar and has played for many soldiers and officers. He has written several songs about his experiences since he has been away. He wrote a song called Private Johnny which is about a soldier who was not getting any mail, while he was standing in line to mail letters home, along with Ribbons Blowing In The Wind, Where The American Flags Are Flying, and The Great 3rd I.D. which is about the unit he is assigned to.

"Steve has not lost his sense of humor and continues to play jokes on everyone when the opportunities arise. He says that it helps keep the morale of the soldiers up. He has no sense of time and most of the time he does not know what the day or date is. He says that if he knew it would make the time go by a lot slower than it has been.

"Steve has seen many new and strange sights and has sent many pictures home of his experiences. He has shaken hands with the middle easterners, a lot of whom he said would give the soldiers a high 5 or peace signs when riding through their towns. He has mingled with their children and purchased little trinkets from them to send home to his family and friends.

"He has seen camels crossing the roads, sheep and a few cattle, which made him very homesick. He said that the further north you go the more grassy it is but if you go south all you see is sand and desert, everywhere. Steve has asked that those who know him and have supported him over the years to not forget about him or his music. He will be home soon. If anyone would like to write to Steve, and he would sure love to hear from everyone, you can send it to:

Sgt. Steve Tidwell
1123rd T. C., 16th CSG, 3rd COSCOM
Unit# 91754
APO AE 09372-1754

Strickland said if anyone else wants to send a care package, good things to include are: Calling cards, socks, reading material, writing paper, chap stick, gum and hand lotion. She feels deeply indebted to the community for love and support throughout this ordeal.

"I would like to thank the local churches, businesses, friends, and his guard unit in Little Rock, that have sent cards, letters and care packages to Steve. It is greatly appreciated. And, I owe a lot to my daughters and their families, my family and my family at work. God bless all of them."

Editor's note: Tidwell's cassettes are on sale in area stores at the following locations: Bolding's, Hastings, Market Cafe,
New Era Hair Salon, and Edna's Cafe.