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It was at his side in life … and refused to be parted in death.

As the US mourned at the funeral of Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, 35, who was one of 38 killed when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in early August, it was a photo of his pet dog Hawkeye lying by his former master’s coffin throughout the ceremony that has captured hearts around the world.

The photograph, which was taken by Petty Officer Tumilson’s cousin Lisa and posted on Facebook, has since made its way around the globe since the funeral last week.

“I took this picture and that was my view throughout the entire funeral. I couldn’t NOT take a picture,” Ms Tumilson told US television network ABC News.

“It took several attempts since every time I wasn’t crying and could focus on taking it, there was a SEAL at the microphone and I didn’t want to take a picture with them for security and respect reasons. Our family is devastated to say the least.”

Petty Officer Tumilson’s faithful Labrador retriever led his family down the aisle into the funeral service in Rockford, Iowa and followed his friend Scott Nichols as he rose to deliver a eulogy, television network MSNBC reported.

It then heaved a sigh and dropped down on the ground in front of Petty Officer Tumilson’s casket as the speech started and more than about 1500 mourners watched on, the report said.

“If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway,” his friend Boe Nankivel said at the service.

News photographers were not allowed into the service, as it was attended by other SEALs whose identities cannot be revealed for security reasons.

Petty Officer Tumilson joined the US Navy in 1995 and was awarded the Purple Heart and Defence Meritorious Service Medal posthumously.

His friend Mr Nichols will look after Hawkeye, television station KTLA said.

A total of 38 people died when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down on August 6 in the eastern province of Wardak, including seven Afghan troops and an interpreter.

Thirty US troops died, including 17 SEALs and five other Navy sailors assigned to the SEAL unit.

The attack represented the most deadly incident for US and NATO forces since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.

The highly-trained SEALs who died ranged in age from 24 to 44 years old.