The headstone above lies in a small plot, surrounded by a low, white picket fence over by the fish pond. During World War II, Tinker had been with the Japanese forces when the U. S. forces took Kwajalein, He was befriended by American servicemen over the years.

Eventually, Tinker's photograph was included on the Navy's command identification board as "Chief in charge of dogs".

When Tinker died in 1962, the Hourglass sorrowfully reported "the last local survivor of the Battle of Kwajalein is dead".

Navymen buried him with ceremony and a headstone. Now, his grave is kept neat by Global Associates Support Group personnel from the Work Center.