Dan Akee Sr. (1922 - 2016)

Born 11 Nov 1922 in Tuba City, Coconino, Arizona, United States

Died 14 Oct 2016 at age 93 in Tuba City, Coconino, Arizona, United States

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Biography

Dan was Navajo.

Dan Akee Sr. is Notable.

PFC Dan Akee Sr. served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II
Service started: 1943
Unit(s): 25th Marine Regiment; 4th Marine Division
Service ended: 1945

Dan Akee was born at Old Coal Canyon on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona near Tuba City on 11 November 1922. Dan was recorded as a resident in Tuba City, Arizona, United States.^[1] He was the son of Lee Akee Sr. (1905–1928) and Anna Jean Begody 71329 (1905–1984). He was Navajo Clan Kiyaa'anii, born for 'Ashjihii.

Dan Akee was sent at age six to a boarding school in nearby Tuba City.

Dan Akee registered for the U.S. World War II Draft in Tuba City, Coconino, Arizona on 30 June 1942. He was 19 years old and employed by J. Philip Murphy at Bellemont, Coconino, Arizona. He was 5'8" tall and weighed 150 lbs. He volunteered for service: however, he couldn't pass the physical.^[2]

Sometime later in 1943, he volunteered again, passed, and became a member of the Code Talker team attached to the 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. The Code Talker military program used native Navajo speakers to transmit codes in the Pacific theater.

PFC Dan Akee, Code Talker, saw action on four Pacific islands during WWII:

• Iwo Jima, Ryukyu Islands (16 February 1945 - 26 March 1945)
• Saipan, Mariana Islands (15 June 1944 - 9 July 1944)
• Tinian, Mariana Islands (24 July 1944 - 1 August 1944)
• Kwajalein, Marshall Islands (31 January 1944 - 7 February 1944)

The 25th Marine Regiment won two Presidential Unit Citations for its participation in these battles, but by the time of Iwo Jima, Dan Akee was one of many starting to show the psychological effects of prolonged exposure to combat.

In 1947, Dan Akee Sr. married Margaret Bracker (1930-2016) in Tuba City, Coconino County, Arizona. They were the parents of:

• Lillie Akee (1949- )
• Cornelia Akee (1956–1991)
• Lorraine Akee ( - )
• Barbara Akee ( - )
• Bobby Allen Akee ( –1991)

In the 1950 census Dan Akee (age 29), Section Hand, was the married head of household in Coconino, Arizona, United States.^[3]

After returning home from WWII, he had persistent problems with nightmares and took to drinking. When a doctor told him he had a liver disease that would be fatal, Akee stopped drinking and also turned to religion, becoming a minister in the Assembly of God church.

Sgt. Major Akee was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal in 1988 by President George H. W. Bush.

Dan Akee died, aged 93, in Tuba City, Coconino County, Arizona on 14 October 2016.^[4] He was buried with military honors in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo, Bellemont, Coconino County, Arizona.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Birthdate: "U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2", Original data: Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings, Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings, Ancestry Record 1732 #160380757 (accessed 11 January 2024), Name: Dan Akee; Birth Date: 11 Nov 1922; Address: 28 Navajo Housing; Residence Place: Tuba City, Arizona, USA; Zip Code: 86045.
2. ↑ Draft Registration: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947", National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Arizona, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 2, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #6670452 (accessed 11 January 2024), Name: Dan Akee; Race: Native American; Age: 19; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 11 Nov 1922; Birth Place: Tuba City, Arizona, USA; Residence Place: Tuba City, Coconino, Arizona, USA; Registration Date: 30 Jun 1942; Registration Place: Tuba City, Coconino, Arizona, USA; Employer: J Phillip Murphy; Height: 5 8; Weight: 150; Complexion: Dark Brown; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Brown; Next of Kin: Anna Jean; Household Members (Name) Relationship: Dan Akee Self (Head).
3. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census", National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Coconino, Arizona; Roll: 5132; Page: 73; Enumeration District: 3-29, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62308 #322098555 (accessed 11 January 2024), Dan Akee (29), married, Section Hand, head of household in Coconino, Arizona, USA. Born in Arizona.
4. ↑ Death: "U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current", Legacy Funeral's; Publication Place: USA; URL: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary-print.aspx?n=Dan-Akee&pid=182133791, Ancestry Record 2190 #502148755 (accessed 11 January 2024), Major Dan Akee burial (died in 2016) in 2016 in Arizona. Born in 1919.
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image), Find A Grave: Memorial #174628248 (accessed 11 January 2024), Memorial page for PFC Dan “Windtalker” Akee Sr. (11 Nov 1922-14 Oct 2016), citing Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo, Bellemont, Coconino County, Arizona, USA (plot: SECTION 1 SITE 258); Maintained by Sidney (contributor 48067839).