Dan Akee is one of 12 Navajo code talkers left in the United States and will be 94 years old on Veterans Day. Known as a “living legend” for his heroic work in World War II, he wants to live in the home he built after the war, which has fallen into dire disrepair. Red Feather Development Group, a non-profit is raising $70,000 to fix his home and give this hero the only wish he has now: to go home.
TUBA CITY, Ariz. – Dan Akee is one of 12 Navajo code talkers left in the United States. He was one of over 44,000 Native Americans who served in the US military during WWII and one of 450 trained Navajo code talkers. Mr. Akee will be 94 years old on his birthday on November 11, 2015 which is also the observed national holiday known as Veterans Day. Mr. Akee lives in Tuba City, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation with his wife, Margaret. He had 12 children, 9 of which are still living, and, at last count, 112 grandchildren. In the 1960’s, he built a home which is now in dire need of repair and renovation. He is currently not able to reside in the house due to its unlivable condition. Red Feather Development Group, a non-profit with offices in Flagstaff, AZ and Bozeman, MT is coordinating a campaign to raise $70,000 in donations and in-kind materials to renovate his home by Christmas Day 2015. Red Feather has been serving Native Americans and housing needs for over 20 years. “When we heard about Navajo code talker Dan Akee, we knew we had to do something quick,” said Mark Hall, Executive Director of Red Feather Development Group. “We are thrilled in how the Veterans and the entire community is responding, it’s beautiful.”
“All I want to do before I die, is live in the house I built with my own hands 60 years ago” said Dan Akee to his son Danny Akee who is a caretaker of Mr. Akee. Mr. Akee is in a wheelchair full time and was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. “When my father was in the hospital, he wasn’t praying for his health, he was praying for the money to fix the house. Now that Red Feather has gotten involved, we know my dad’s dream of living in his house is going to come true.” Danny Akee smiles and get tears in his eyes to think of this happening for his father, a national hero, his hero.
Dan Akee was born in Coalmine Canyon on the Navajo Reservation and named “Red Moccasins.” He is a descendant of the Kiyanni and Ashihii clans, born on November 11, 1922. Akee was 21 years old when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943, shortly after the outbreak of WWII. Akee trained as a code talker at Camp Pendleton and was detailed to the 4th Marine Division, 25th Regiment. From 1943-45, Akee took part in some of the most ferocious fighting in the Pacific including the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian and two campaigns of Iwo Jima. He memorized over 555 Navajo words in a highly classified system of Code Talk which is credited as helping win the Battle at Iwo Jima. During the war, the Navajo Code Talk was never broken. It took Mr. Akee over five months to memorize the secret codes.
“I just want to go home”
The work that needs to be done on the Akee residence is substantial. First, a new roof, window replacements, doors, basic plumbing and electrical work needs to be done. Several organizations are sponsoring this project with in-kind materials and labor as well as financial donations. The Western Agency of Navajo Veterans Affairs, Arizona Public Service (APS), Home Depot, Owens-Corning and many others have immediately stepped up to the challenge. Eunice Begay, Veteran Service Officer shared the good news, “I will have a 10 person crew there for one week during the Red Feather renovation project.” Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick is a friend and fan of Navajo Code Talker Dan Akee. “We want to see Dan happy and home as soon as possible. We are grateful to Red Feather for bringing the project and the community together,” noted Marie Nez, the District Outreach Representative for Kirkpatrick’s office in Tuba City.
Red Feather is sponsoring a crowdfunding campaign on Generosity.com, one of the Indiegogo sites to enlist thousands who care about Veterans to help raise $70,000. When significant donations are made, donors will receive original Akee family Navajo sand paintings as a thank you gift. Marie and Danny Akee are already in production at their art studio next door to the house that is being renovated. “We better get started, we think lots of people are going to help us make this dream come true,” quipped Danny Akee.
“We are approaching the renovation in a four phased approach,” Joe Seidenberg, Program Manager for Red Feather noted. “We are starting with the most critical items first like the roof, windows and doors and working our way up from there. Please call us if you have access to materials or labor, this is going to take everyone coming together to pull this off.” Red Feather has planned a bathroom and kitchen renovation that will allow Mr. Akee full handicap access along with wheelchair access ramp to the house. A kickoff work party was held Saturday November 7th. Over 30 volunteers from the surrounding community, came out last Saturday to begin preparing the house for renovation. The work party included President of the Navajo Nation, Russell Begaye, his Vice President Jonathan Nez and some of their staff, numerous local veterans, staff from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and members of the Akee family. The goal is to have the Akee’s home completed for Christmas.
More about Navajo Code Talkers
On August 14, 1982, “Navajo Code Talkers Day” was proclaimed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Over 450 Navajo code talkers served our country in the US Marines. The Navajo code talkers were commended for their skill, speed, and accuracy demonstrated throughout the war. They could encode and transmit a message in less than 20 seconds when the code messaging machines of the day took over 30 minutes. The code terms were designed to communicate locations and information of strategic importance. The Navajo words were integrated to represent approximately 450 military terms not in the traditional language Diné Bazaad, such as “submarine” and “dive-bomber”.
At the Battle of Iwo Jima, Major Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer, had six Navajo code talkers working around the clock during the first two days of the battle. These six sent and received over 800 messages, all without error. Connor later stated, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima."
Sergeant Major Akee was often on the front lines, receiving communication for his regiment. Especially at Iwo Jima, he lost many of his regiment and friends. After the war, Akee retired to civilian life with a rank of Sergeant Major, the highest rank for a non-commissioned Marine officer. He married Margaret, they had 12 children and he worked on the railroad and in a uranium ore processing plant for many years. In 1967, he became an interpreter with Tuba City Hospital’s mental health department where he retired in 1988 after 21 years of service.
Code Talkers are now known as “living legends” who altered the course of world history. “It was the Navajo language that won the war,” Dan Akee said. “Not so much the guns and the missiles and the tanks, but it was the language, our sacred language.” The Navajo Code Talkers weren’t always recognized as national heroes, however. Until the code was declassified in 1968, they were ordered not to speak of the details of their service in the Pacific Theater. About 16 million Americans came to the aid of the US during WWII, and it was 450 young, Navajo-speaking men who lead the Allied Forces to victory.”
HOW TO GIVE TO THE DAN AKEE “GOING HOME” RED FEATHER RENOVATION PROJECT
- Go to the Red Feather Development Group website and donate directly at www.redfeather.org
- Go to Indigogo and contribute to the Dan Akee “Going Home” crowd funder
- Call Red Feather Development Group in Flagstaff, AZ at 928-440-5119 and let us know what in-kind donation you would like to make or if you have a volunteer organization that can provide renovation labor.
– Crowdfunding
Contact information:
Red Feather Development Group, a non-profit organization
2501 N. 4th Street, Suite 17
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928-440-5119 (office)
www.redfeather.org
