Happy Ending For Hawkeye – The Dog Who Watched Over His Navy SEAL Master’s Coffin
Hawkeye Refused To Leave His Masters Side
The photo that broke the nations heart – Hawkeye the Labrador lying by his master’s coffin during Navy SEAL, Jon Tumilson’s emotional funeral. But Hawkeye will not be alone for long as Scott Nichols, a close friend of Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, has stepped in to offer the dog a home.
Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson’s Labrador retriever Hawkeye was loyal to the end, he refused to leave his master’s side during an emotional funeral
A Close Friend Will Care For Hawkeye
Nikki Virgilio, a friend of Mr Tumilson (J.T.), who was at the funeral, said Hawkeye was a personal pet rather than a military dog. She wrote on Facebook that Mr Nicols had previously taken care Hawkeye while Mr Tumlinson was deployed abroad.
“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.
Mr Tumilson’s family members followed Hawkeye into the service before he lay down
Hawkeye captured the attention of the public when a photo taken by Mr Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, showed the Labrador refusing to leave Mr. Tumlinson’s side at his funeral. Mr Tumilson, of San Diego, California, was one of 38 killed on August 6th in a major U.S. helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
Mr Tumilson’s mother and father were told they raised an ‘outstanding man, a hero’
Jon Was An Immeasurable Loss
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.”
Family, friends and servicemen, along with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, packed the school’s gymnasium.
He Followed His Dreams
Kristie Pohlman, Mr. Tumlilson’s sister said he always dreamed of joining the military’s special forces unit. Family members followed Hawkeye into the service. Mr Tumilson is survived by two sisters and his parents, George and Kathleen.
Based on a story by the dailymail
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