Fallen Iowa Soldier's Dog Mourns His Owner At Funeral

Deanne Stein, News9.com

ROCKFORD, Iowa -- Family and friends mourn the death of an American Navy Seal. The funeral for Petty Officer 1st Class Jon T. Tumilson became even more emotional, though,  when his dog, Hawkeye, also paid tribute.

Tumilson, 35, was one of 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs, who were killed on August 6 in Afghanistan.

More than 1,500 people showed up at Tumilson's funeral on August 19 inside the Rockford Senior High School to pay their respects and honor the fallen soldier. Even Hawkeye, Tumilson's Labrador retriever, laid by the casket for the duration of the funeral, letting out a loud sigh.

Tumilson's cousin, Lisa Pembleton, took the picture of Hawkeye lying next to the casket and posted it on her Facebook page in memory of Tumilson.

"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," Pembleton wrote on her Facebook page. "The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.''

Tumilson's family said the Navy Seal did what he had always dreamed of doing. In fact, when he was 15, he wrote a paper about it.

As for Hawkeye, according to a Facebook post on Tumilson's memorial page, he'll be adopted by one of Tumilson's Navy Seal mates.

View or leave your comments on Petty Officer 1st Class Jon T. Tumilson's Memorial Page on Facebook.

More:
8/25/2011 Funeral Held For Oklahoman Soldier Killed In Afghanistan