Life Features

The dog of a US Navy SEAL killed in action remained loyal to his master - even after death.

At the funeral of Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, many were sad to see their loved one being laid to rest, but it was his dog Hawkeye that took it the hardest. The loyal labrador stayed beside Jon, even in death, at his funeral in Iowa last week.

Jon was one of the 38 servicemen killed when Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan downed a US Army Chinook.

During the funeral last Friday, Hawkeye walked up to the casket, heaved a sigh and lay down in front of it for the duration of the memorial. The photograph of a lonely Hawkeye was taken by Jon’s cousin Lisa Pembleton at the service, which was attended by 1,500 people.

Lisa posted the photo on a military blog with the sole message reading ‘Jon’s loyal son’. Lisa told reporters, “I hadn’t planned on taking any pictures other than with family. The message posted on Home Post read:

Hawkeye is/was his loyal “son”. 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. I hadn’t planned on taking any pictures other than with family. However, from my seat at the funeral, 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. This is that photo…

[Image via Lisa Pembleton]