Among Heroes: A U.S. Navy SEAL's True Story of Friendship, Heroism, and the Ultimate Sacrifice (25 page)

Campbell never lost his temper and always had a smile on his face, no matter what. Here he is on the beach with his daughter, Sam—who has clearly inherited that famous Chris smile.

Courtesy of Cindy Campbell

Heath Robinson was one of my Team Three teammates at Echo Platoon, when we went into Afghanistan immediately after 9/11 and cleared the massive cave-complex training grounds at Zhawar Kili. We ended up in the winter in some seriously high altitudes—with virtually no cold-weather gear.

Courtesy of Debora Robinson-Coxe

Talk about climate contrast: from our deployment in the frigid mountains of northern Afghanistan to a different platoon serving in the desert of Iraq.

Courtesy of Debora Robinson-Coxe

Heath had an insatiable appetite for self-improvement; his work ethic became legendary among the teams. Here he is, decked out in camo, eating up the intense training of sniper school.

Courtesy of Debora Robinson-Coxe

Heath’s nickname was Hollywood, because of both his good looks and his love of movies. The guys called this photo of Heath in full battle gear with helo in background his “Hollywood shot.”

Courtesy of Debora Robinson-Coxe

Heath in Afghanistan, ready for a priority mission, not long before the downing of Extortion 17 in August 2011.

Courtesy of Debora Robinson-Coxe

Even at age eighteen months, JT Tumilson was already a lady charmer.

Courtesy of Kathy Tumilson

A friend once described JT as a “human Labrador: smart, athletic, and you want him to be with you everywhere you go”—an inside joke, because JT’s one constant companion was his chocolate Lab, Hawkeye.

Courtesy of Kathy Tumilson

JT’s brother-in-law Scott McMeekan snapped this shot of JT on what would turn out to be his last visit home for Christmas, eight months before Extortion 17 was shot down in Afghanistan in August 2011.

Courtesy of Scott McMeekan

At his funeral, JT’s faithful Lab, Hawkeye, walked down the center aisle, lay down in front of the coffin, and didn’t budge for the rest of the service. Within days this photo went viral, capturing an anguish over the loss of so many of our finest warriors that resonated nationally.

Lisa Pembleton/Getty Images

This is a ceremony I’ve come to know too well: On August 19, 2011, SEAL team brothers kneel in a gesture of respect and grief after pounding their Tridents into JT’s casket.

Courtesy of Kathy Tumilson

Everyone’s best friend: Glen Doherty poses for a family snapshot with his sister, Kate; Kate’s boys; and his mom, Barbara.

Courtesy of Kate Quigley