JT Tumilson was born on July 1, 1976, in Osage, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 19, 1994, went on active duty beginning July 17, 1995, and graduated from basic training at NTC Great Lakes, Illinois, in September 1995. Petty Officer Tumilson attended Operations Specialist training at NAATC Millington, Tennessee, and at Dam Neck, Virginia, from September 1995 to March 1996, and then served aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG-73), home-ported out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from April 1996 to May 2001. He next attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at NAB Coronado, California, from June 2001 to April 2002, followed by Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia, from April to May 2002, and SEAL Qualification Training from May to October 2002. His next assignment was with SEAL Team ONE at NAB Coronado from October 2002 to July 2006, followed by service with Naval Special Warfare Group ONE at NAB Coronado, from July 2006 to March 2008. Petty Officer Tumilson served with SEAL Team THREE at NAB Coronado from March 2008 to August 2009, and then with Naval Special Warfare Development Group at Dam Neck from August 2009 until he was killed in action when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard was shot down in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. JT Tumilson was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford, Iowa, and was posthumously promoted to Chief Petty Officer.

His 1st (of 2) Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Citation reads:

For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as task unit communicator and sniper for Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-HABBANIYAH in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 17 October 2005 to 21 April 2006. Petty Officer Tumilson trained 80 Iraqi soldiers and advised them during the execution of over 60 combat operations. On 4 April 2006, he performed exceptionally under fire while providing critical precision fire on enemy forces to break up an ambush and allow his fellow soldiers to egress to safety. By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Tumilson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.

His 2nd Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Citation reads:

For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as an Assault Team Member for a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 28 June 2011 to 6 August 2011. During this period, Chief Petty Officer Tumilson executed multiple operations and was part of a Task Force credited with the elimination and detention of numerous enemy combatants inkling several high value targets. On 6 August 2011, he served as an Assault Team Member for a Special Operations element responding to enemy forces escaping from a nearby raid in an enemy contested valley in Afghanistan. Chief Petty Officer Tumilson, knowing the valley served as an enemy safe haven with no sustained coalition force presence and knowing that his mission was to interdict and ambush an armed enemy force, volunteered to pursue an enemy known to have attacked coalition forces with plans for future attacks. He selflessly chose to interdict the fleeing enemy when he boarded the helicopter with his teammates. The aggressive mission to prevent future attacks on coalition forces ended in tragedy when the helicopter on which he was riding was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, causing the helicopter to crash. By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Chief Petty Officer Tumilson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.