Loyal Hawkeye till the end

Saniflush · « **on:** August 25, 2011, 10:39:12 AM »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029688/Navy-SEAL-Jon-Tumilsons-dog-sits-coffin-funeral.html

Quote

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

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.

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

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

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

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.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HAWKEYE?

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.

'So he is assuredly in a loving home. J.T. was an amazing being and his dog is no different.'

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’.
1,500 mourners

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2011, 10:53:08 AM »

Man, there must be some sheetrock or something peeling off my ceiling. I got something in my eye when I pulled up that picture.

Saniflush · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2011, 10:55:10 AM »

Quote from: Snaggletiger on August 25, 2011, 10:53:08 AM

Man, there must be some sheetrock or something peeling off my ceiling. I got something in my eye when I pulled up that picture.

yeah having some of the same problems here.

djsimp · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2011, 11:06:11 AM »

Damn, talk about a sad photo. I wish my Lab was that loyal. The only thing he does is eat my food and drink my beer.

Saniflush · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2011, 11:09:00 AM »

Quote from: djsimp on August 25, 2011, 11:06:11 AM

Damn, talk about a sad photo. I wish my Lab was that loyal. The only thing he does is eat my food and drink my beer.

GH2001 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2011, 12:39:31 PM »

Damn....just damn. That's quite a picture.

Thanks for posting Sani.

AUTiger1 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2011, 01:30:47 PM »

Quote from: GH2001 on August 25, 2011, 12:39:31 PM

Damn....just damn. That's quite a picture.

Thanks for posting Sani.

Ditto

dallaswareagle · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2011, 03:24:12 PM »

Here's Video: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/man-best-friend-mourns-death-175219915.html

I don't have the stones to open it.

Saniflush · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2011, 03:31:01 PM »

Quote from: dallaswareagle on August 25, 2011, 03:24:12 PM

Here's Video: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/man-best-friend-mourns-death-175219915.html

I don't have the stones to open it.

Ok. More plaster falling.

djsimp · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2011, 03:40:16 PM »

I think I'll punish myself and watch it when I get home. Then I'll go out back and pour my dog a beer for good measure.

Tiger Wench · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2011, 03:47:19 PM »

Not to make light, but this is why smart people have dogs and not cats.

djsimp · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:01:30 PM »

Quote from: Tiger Wench on August 25, 2011, 03:47:19 PM

Not to make light, but this is why smart people have dogs and not cats.

I agree, pussies are only good for one thing.

JR4AU · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:35:41 PM »

Saw this earlier today. My allergies started acting up real bad.

Tarheel · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:53:33 PM »

Quote from: Saniflush on August 25, 2011, 10:39:12 AM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029688/Navy-SEAL-Jon-Tumilsons-dog-sits-coffin-funeral.html
...

Heartbreaking photo and story, Sani, thanks for posting.

Beyond that it still infuriates me about the RPG attack on the helicopter in which Petty Officer Tumlinson was killed along with 29 other Americans in the first place. Obviously there are significant risks in war but this was beyond The Pale in my opinion; especially just a few weeks after bid Laden is captured and fed to the fish; I'm not a conspiracy theory nutter but this story vexes the hell out of me for some reason.