Earnest Jackson Tidwell Jr.

Sergeant Earnest Jackson “Jack” Tidwell was born in Winter Haven, Florida on August 23, 1945 to DorothyRalston Tidwell, a housewife, and Ernest Tidwell, an Evangelist tent revival preacher who converted others to theChristian Faith. Jack spent most of his childhood with his mother Dorothy and stepfather Donald Lee Howell, aUnited States Army First Sergeant, in Fort Bragg just west of Fayetteville, North Carolina. At the age of 10, Jacktraveled to Missouri where he would spend two years making cherished memories on his grandparent’s farm. Heconsidered these the best years of his childhood. In 1963, at just 17 years of age, Jack made the honorable decision and selfless sacrifice to enlist in theUnited States Army. Upon completing his basic training at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, Jack was stationed inAschaffenburg, Germany. It was during this time that Jack’s cousin Delores Eller encouraged her childhood friendEvelyn Morris, the woman who would later become Jack’s wife, to write him letters. These letters continued forthree years. As promised in their conversations Jack returned to the United States from Germany in August of 1966and within just a few weeks married Evelyn, the love of his life, on September 10th. Soon after their wedding Jack was stationed at the Korean DMZ where he would spend 13 months. Duringhis time in Korea Jack promised to one day bring his wife Evelyn to see Germany. That promise was fulfilled whenEvelyn joined him at the famous “Rock” with the 2nd Armored Cavalry known as the 2nd Dragoons in Bindlach,Germany near the Czechoslovakian border during the Cold War. In 1969, while stationed in Bindlach, Jack wascalled to spend a tour in the Vietnam War. He spent hist first 12 months in Pleiku, South Vietnam. Then he wascalled for a second tour in 1971 in Cam Rahn Bay, Jack was medevacked to Walter Reed Army Medical Center inWashington, D.C. He was then assigned state side duty in Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. In 1972while stationed in Fort Rucker he was given orders for a three year tour of duty in Frankfurt, Germany. This wouldbe his last station before his honorable discharge in 1975. Jack continued to serve our country in the United StatesArmy Reserves in Atlanta, Georgia for two years and the Georgia National Guard in Forrest Park, Georgia for fouryears until he became a civilian again. As a civilian Jack worked in security at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He became a Mason and memberof the Springville Lodge in Powder Springs, Georgia as well as a Shriner with the Paulding County Shrine Club. Heenjoyed his hobbies of playing guitar, collecting coins, and continually nurtured a relationship with God. Jack was a 100% Disabled Vietnam Veteran. His disabilities were a result of the “Agent Orange” tacticalherbicide used to clear jungle vegetation during the Vietnam War. On this day of Jack’s burial, March 29th, 2023 itis the 50th Anniversary of the last day of combat troops in Vietnam and it is also National Vietnam War VeteransDay, signed into law by our 45th President Donald J. Trump. This day honors the 9 million U.S. Military men andwomen who served in the Southeast Asian theater of operation as well as those who served during the VietnamWar at home and abroad. More than 58,000 Vietnam patriot’s names are etched into a black granite wall inWashington, DC honoring those who sacrificed all they had and all they would ever know. Nearly 1,600 VietnamWar service members remain unaccounted for today. Take this opportunity to give a hearty “Welcome Home” tothose who made it back from the war, and a “Thank you for your service” to all from the Vietnam Era. Evelyn and Jack remained happily married for 56 years until his passing. His family consists of 7 siblings:Mike Howell, Deborah Richards, Ronald Howell, Diane Powell, Barbara Jean Crusen, Paula Turner, and Billy Howell.Jack and Evelyn have three children: their daughter Elisha Ann Tidwell, son Ernie Tidwell, and daughter AngelaTidwell Johnson. Jack’s precious granddaughter, Bethany Leighann Tidwell, gave him three great grandchildren:Natalie Holland, Adrian Cobb, and Callie Hollman. Jack is beloved by all who knew him and will be missed.