Jon's beloved dog, Hawkeye, crossed over the rainbow bridge on May 1, 2022. Jon and Hawkeye are together once more.
********
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Petty Officer 1st Class Tumilson joined the Navy after graduating from Rockford High School in 1995 and was involved in many physical activities including wrestling, football and kick boxing. After joining the Navy he worked his way up to the U.S. Navy SEALs. He died when a helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. JT got an early start on his preparation to join the SEALS. He had been a wrestler in high school and competed in marathons and triathlons. Neighbors remembered him as a warrior committed to the SEALs, no matter the pain he endured in training or the risks he ran on each mission. Friend Justin Schriever remembered Tumilson as "a die-hard at everything. He'd always go the extra mile on everything. He wouldn't let anything stop him from accomplishing something." He is survived by his parents, George and Kathleen Tumilson of Rockford; two sisters, Kristie Pohlman (Brad Hartgraves) of Cedar Rapids and Joy (Scott) McMeekan of Taylor Ridge, Ill.; six nieces and nephews, Kobey Pohlman, Kamryn Pohlman, Kelsi McMeekan, Kaitlyn Pohlman, Sydney McMeekan and Isabella McMeekan; 21 aunts, uncles and cousins; and his dog, Hawkeye. Petty Officer Tumilson was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Nell Tumilson; maternal grandparents, John and Leona Jacobs; a friend, Kevin Reiter; and his Brothers in Arms. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
********
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Petty Officer 1st Class Tumilson joined the Navy after graduating from Rockford High School in 1995 and was involved in many physical activities including wrestling, football and kick boxing. After joining the Navy he worked his way up to the U.S. Navy SEALs. He died when a helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. JT got an early start on his preparation to join the SEALS. He had been a wrestler in high school and competed in marathons and triathlons. Neighbors remembered him as a warrior committed to the SEALs, no matter the pain he endured in training or the risks he ran on each mission. Friend Justin Schriever remembered Tumilson as "a die-hard at everything. He'd always go the extra mile on everything. He wouldn't let anything stop him from accomplishing something." He is survived by his parents, George and Kathleen Tumilson of Rockford; two sisters, Kristie Pohlman (Brad Hartgraves) of Cedar Rapids and Joy (Scott) McMeekan of Taylor Ridge, Ill.; six nieces and nephews, Kobey Pohlman, Kamryn Pohlman, Kelsi McMeekan, Kaitlyn Pohlman, Sydney McMeekan and Isabella McMeekan; 21 aunts, uncles and cousins; and his dog, Hawkeye. Petty Officer Tumilson was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Nell Tumilson; maternal grandparents, John and Leona Jacobs; a friend, Kevin Reiter; and his Brothers in Arms. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Jon's beloved dog, Hawkeye, crossed over the rainbow bridge on May 1, 2022. Jon and Hawkeye are together once more.
********
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Petty Officer 1st Class Tumilson joined the Navy after graduating from Rockford High School in 1995 and was involved in many physical activities including wrestling, football and kick boxing. After joining the Navy he worked his way up to the U.S. Navy SEALs. He died when a helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. JT got an early start on his preparation to join the SEALS. He had been a wrestler in high school and competed in marathons and triathlons. Neighbors remembered him as a warrior committed to the SEALs, no matter the pain he endured in training or the risks he ran on each mission. Friend Justin Schriever remembered Tumilson as "a die-hard at everything. He'd always go the extra mile on everything. He wouldn't let anything stop him from accomplishing something." He is survived by his parents, George and Kathleen Tumilson of Rockford; two sisters, Kristie Pohlman (Brad Hartgraves) of Cedar Rapids and Joy (Scott) McMeekan of Taylor Ridge, Ill.; six nieces and nephews, Kobey Pohlman, Kamryn Pohlman, Kelsi McMeekan, Kaitlyn Pohlman, Sydney McMeekan and Isabella McMeekan; 21 aunts, uncles and cousins; and his dog, Hawkeye. Petty Officer Tumilson was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Nell Tumilson; maternal grandparents, John and Leona Jacobs; a friend, Kevin Reiter; and his Brothers in Arms. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
********
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Petty Officer 1st Class Tumilson joined the Navy after graduating from Rockford High School in 1995 and was involved in many physical activities including wrestling, football and kick boxing. After joining the Navy he worked his way up to the U.S. Navy SEALs. He died when a helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. JT got an early start on his preparation to join the SEALS. He had been a wrestler in high school and competed in marathons and triathlons. Neighbors remembered him as a warrior committed to the SEALs, no matter the pain he endured in training or the risks he ran on each mission. Friend Justin Schriever remembered Tumilson as "a die-hard at everything. He'd always go the extra mile on everything. He wouldn't let anything stop him from accomplishing something." He is survived by his parents, George and Kathleen Tumilson of Rockford; two sisters, Kristie Pohlman (Brad Hartgraves) of Cedar Rapids and Joy (Scott) McMeekan of Taylor Ridge, Ill.; six nieces and nephews, Kobey Pohlman, Kamryn Pohlman, Kelsi McMeekan, Kaitlyn Pohlman, Sydney McMeekan and Isabella McMeekan; 21 aunts, uncles and cousins; and his dog, Hawkeye. Petty Officer Tumilson was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Nell Tumilson; maternal grandparents, John and Leona Jacobs; a friend, Kevin Reiter; and his Brothers in Arms. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
