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 (50)

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.
Joeastro (Unverified)
If we as humans could learn to love as well as our pets, we would be in a MUCH better world.
KayDawg (Unverified)
COULD NOT OF SAID IT BETTER!