Dog Mourns Loss of Navy SEAL

Published August 25, 2011

Getty Images

Hawkeye, a Labrador Retriever, mourns the loss of his owner, Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, at his casket at his funeral service.

The loyalty our pets have to us knows no bounds, and there was further proof of that earlier this week in what can only be described as a heart-wrenching story.

Jon Tumilson, a Navy SEAL, gave his life in Afghanistan on Aug. 6 with several other SEALs. And when it came time to memorialize him, his human family and friends were not the only ones mourning; Tumilson's dog, a Labrador Retriever named Hawkeye, was front and center at Tumilson's service.

When a friend of Tumilson's went to take the podium to remember his lost pal, Hawkeye followed and went straight to the casket at the front of the gymnasium where the service was held, laying down with a heavy sigh and refusing to leave the side of his owner.

The dog remained dutiful to his owner, even though his owner had passed.

For those who knew him, the loss of Tumilson has been described as "immeasurable." The heart-wrenching actions of his loyal Lab Hawkeye only show that the loss of life, similar to the loyalty our pets have for us, is not at all quantifiable or measurable.

As for Hawkeye, while he'll never forget his former owner, he'll attempt to move on with a new owner, Tumilson's friend Scott Nichols, whom Hawkeye followed up to the front of the gymnasium.

Let us know what you think about this sad story in a comment.

Author's profile photo
Ryan Karpusiewicz Ryan Karpusiewicz is the Assistant Editor, Lifestyle, for Digital Works @ NBC U, whose main…

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Comments (47)

Anonymous (Unverified)
This picture really touched me. Dogs are so awesome and such great members of our families. My husband died at home suddenly 2 years ago. He was alone with our Boston Terrier, Harley who sat by my husband's body until I came home over 8 hours later. Some told me how they knocked on the door and they could hear him barking inside the house when he normally would storm the door. When I came home, his demeanor was sad, bless him how he mourned my husband. He wouldn't eat for a few days, I had to coax him to eat one morsel at a time. My dog Harley loved my husband to no end..they were inseparable. My dog is such a comfort to me, I have pics of my husband holding him on his chest and playing with him. sad.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Animals make wonderful companions to people who are grieving as we found out when our parents died.When Mom passed in 2009,our dogs rallied around my Dad,and when he passed in 2010,they were a comfort for us kids,they always seem to know when I am having a bad day and they don't wander far from me on those days.I am extremely happy to have my dogs !!!!
Anonymous (Unverified)
NO WORDS , JUST TEARS, THANK YOU JON!!!!
Anonymous (Unverified)
I knew JT... An amazing man!! Miss ya bro!!
Anonymous (Unverified)
Very moving but sad story. Goes to show you that our pets have unconditional love!
SMG (Unverified)
This is one of the sweetest picture I have seen. A master and his best friend. This says alot about the man that passed. I am sorry for his friend and "Thankful" for the service of his master.
Marshall (Unverified)
I played piano at a funeral several years ago for a young handicapped guy...his seeing-eye dog was in the back of the chapel. As I began to play the young man's favorite hymn, his dog walked slowing up to the casket, touched it with his nose and laid down by the pedestal. There wasn't a dry eye in the chapel, not even mine. I will never forget it.