Loyal to the end: Heart-breaking photo shows Navy SEAL's devoted dog guarding his cof

[darrels joy]

Loyal to the end: Heart-breaking photo shows Navy SEAL's devoted dog guarding his coffin

• Petty Officer Jon Tumilson killed in Afghanistan crash
• Navy SEAL was one of 38 shot down in helicopter
  
• Labrador retriever Hawkeye was at emotional service
  

By Mark Duell

Last updated at 7:57 PM on 24th August 2011

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This heart-wrenching photo shows how a Navy SEAL’s dog refused to leave his master’s side during an emotional funeral.
Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, killed in the major U.S. helicopter crash in Afghanistan this month, was remembered by around 1,500 mourners.
But it was his Labrador retriever Hawkeye that really captured the public’s emotions in the photo taken by Mr Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton.
Scroll down for video


Sadness: Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson's Labrador retriever Hawkeye was loyal to the end, as he refused to leave his master's side during an emotional funeral


Mr Tumlinson, of San Diego, California, was one of 38 killed on August 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade took out a U.S. Chinook helicopter.
His funeral was held on Friday in his hometown of Rockford, Iowa, at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School.


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Ms Pembleton said: ‘I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle.
'To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.'

Big funeral: Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, killed in the Afghanistan helicopter crash this month, was remembered by around 1,500 mourners


During the service, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Bradshaw told Mr Tumilson's parents that they helped raise an ‘outstanding man - a hero’.
‘I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle'

Lisa Pembleton, cousin

Family, friends and servicemen, along with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, packed the school's gymnasium.
Mr Tumilson, who joined the Navy in 1995, was known to friends as J.T.
‘J.T. was going to be a Navy SEAL come hell or high water,’ friend Scott Nichols said. ‘He wasn't afraid of dying.’

Downed: Mr Tumlinson, of San Diego, California, was one of 38 killed on August 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade took out their Chinook helicopter


‘If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway,’ friend and soldier Boe Nankivel said.
‘If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway'

Boe Nankivel, friend and fellow soldier

Mr Tumilson's sister, Kristie Pohlman, said he always dreamed of joining the military's elite special forces unit.
‘Your dreams were big and seemed impossible to nearly everyone on the outside,’ she said. ‘I always knew you'd somehow do what you wanted.’
Family members followed Hawkeye into the service. Mr Tumilson is survived by two sisters and his parents, George and Kathleen.
See video here

• A fund was set up in the SEAL's honour. Donations can be sent to 'Frogman 238 Memorial Fund' at: First Security Bank and Trust, 201 West Main Ave, Rockford, Iowa, 50468
  

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1Vz7jprK4

[darrels joy]

Happy ending for Hawkeye: Dog who lay by his Navy SEAL master's coffin during funeral finds a new home with best friend

• Labrador will go to friend of Jon Tomlinson, who was killed in Chinook crash
  

By Mark Duell and Laurie Whitwell

Last updated at 5:05 AM on 26th August 2011

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It was the picture that broke the nation's heart - Hawkeye the Labrador lying longingly by his master's coffin as the Navy SEAL's emotional funeral was conducted.

But Hawkeye will not be alone for long as the deceased soldier's best human friend has stepped in to offer the dog a home.

It has been revealed that Scott Nichols, a close friend of Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, who was killed in the major U.S. helicopter crash in Afghanistan this month, will care for Hawkeye.
Scroll down for video


Sadness: Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson's Labrador retriever Hawkeye was loyal to the end, as he refused to leave his master's side during an emotional funeral



Man's best friend: Mr Tumilson's family members followed Hawkeye into the service before he lay down

Nikki Virgilio, a friend of Mr Tumilson (known as J.T.) who was at the funeral, said Hawkeye was a personal pet rather than a military dog.

'I can happily report to you that Hawkeye was willed to one of J.T.'s good friends, the same one that took care of him whenever J.T. was deployed overseas,' she wrote on Facebook.

The Des Moines Register revealed this close friend to be Scott Nichols, who said at the funeral that the fallen SEAL was more scared of his parents dying than being killed himself.
‘J.T. was going to be a Navy SEAL come hell or high water,’ Mr Nichols said. ‘He wasn't afraid of dying.’

Ms Virgilio wrote on Facebook that Mr Nicols had previously taken care Hawkeye while Mr Tumlinson was deployed abroad.
Hawkeye captured the public’s emotions when a photo taken by Mr Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, and showed the Labrador retriever refusing to leave his master's side.
Mr Tumilson, of San Diego, California, was one of 38 killed on August 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade took out a U.S. Chinook helicopter.

Big funeral: Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, killed in the Afghanistan helicopter crash this month, was remembered by around 1,500 mourners

Pride: Mr Tumilson's mother and father were told they helped raise an 'outstanding man - a hero'



His funeral was held on Friday in his hometown of Rockford, Iowa, at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School.
Ms Pembleton said: ‘I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle.
'To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.'
During the service, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Bradshaw told Mr Tumilson's parents that they helped raise an ‘outstanding man - a hero’.
Family, friends and servicemen, along with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, packed the school's gymnasium.
Mr Tumilson, who joined the Navy in 1995, was known to friends as J.T.

Packed: His funeral was held in his hometown of Rockford, Iowa, at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School


Downed: Mr Tumilson, of San Diego, California, was one of 38 killed on August 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade took out their Chinook helicopter


‘If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway,’ friend and soldier Boe Nankivel said.
Mr Tumilson's sister, Kristie Pohlman, said he always dreamed of joining the military's elite special forces unit.
‘Your dreams were big and seemed impossible to nearly everyone on the outside,’ she said. ‘I always knew you'd somehow do what you wanted.’
Family members followed Hawkeye into the service. Mr Tumilson is survived by two sisters and his parents, George and Kathleen.
See video here

• A fund was set up in the SEAL's honour. Donations can be sent to 'Frogman 238 Memorial Fund' at: First Security Bank and Trust, 201 West Main Ave, Rockford, Iowa, 50468
  

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1WBwztRkE