Community generosity helps Code Talker with new home

NAVAJO NATION – Dan Akee, a 94-year-old Navajo Code Talker, finally got to go home to the house he had built 60 years before.

Hundreds of volunteers completely renovated his 4-bedroom home and Saturday, he saw inside it for the first time after three months of watching from the trailer he was living in next to the house.

Six years ago he and his wife Margaret were forced to move into the trailer after the house had become uninhabitable due to a leaky roof, broken windows and no heat source.  The World War II hero’s only wish was to “go home” and that somehow, someway his house would be restored for him to live there again before he died. 

Red Feather Development Group, a non-profit serving housing needs on the Hopi and Navajo reservations and the Western Agency of the Department of Navajo Veteran Affairs made the Navajo Code Talker’s dream come true Feb. 6.

When Dan Akee saw the renovated house for the first time, he couldn’t believe what he saw as he was clearly emotionally touched in front of the more than 65 family members and friends who had come to bless the house and celebrate this special moment with him. 

Russel Begaye, President of the Navajo Nation, thanked everyone and especially Red Feather for completing what had been begun 90 days before.

“Wow, the house is amazing and benefiting of a national hero and inspiration of the Navajo Nation,” Begaye said.

More than 2,200 volunteer hours were donated, $30,000 raised through generosity.com and more than $50,000 in materials were donated for the project.

When Akee was asked what he will be doing now, he just smiled and said, “I’m going to take it easy now.” 

After all the guests left, that’s exactly what he did. He sat in front of the wood burning stove with his wife and grandchildren and they just enjoyed a quiet moment together in their house that they previously thought would never happen.

Akee is one of 10 Navajo Code Talkers left in the United States.  He was one of the 44,000 Native Americans who served in the US Military during WWII and one of the 450 Navajo code talkers trained to code and decode secret messages.  Retired Sergeant Major Akee is one of three code talkers still alive from his regiment.  He currently lives at the Navajo Nation with his wife, Margaret.

At last count, Akee has 112 grandchildren, and he hopes they all will come home to visit.  

(Red Feather will host a Community Celebration luncheon on February 13 from 1PM to 3PM at the home of Lily Akee, which is located next to the Dan Akee’s newly renovated home to honor and thank over 120 volunteers for their time and efforts.  All volunteers who contributed to the Dan Akee “Going Home” Project are encouraged to attend the luncheon celebration provided by the Akee family and sponsored by APS. For more information, please call the Red Feather office in Flagstaff at 980-440-5119.)