Victor Maghakian

Captain Victor "Transport" Maghakian (; December 30, 1915 – August 17, 1977) was an Armenian-American member of the United States Marine Corps during World War II. As a gunnery sergeant, he led his platoon through some of the bloodiest fighting in seven South Pacific campaigns, including the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Having received over two dozen medals and awards, he is considered one of the most decorated American Marines of the war.

Maghakian served with the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions and the Raiders. During the Makin Island raid, Maghakian led the charge onto the beachhead with a landing force and fought while suffering a forearm wound. He was awarded with the Navy Cross for his efforts during the raid. Although he was supposed to return home afterward, Maghakian requested to join the Guadalcanal campaign, and was shipped two weeks later. He was again wounded in action.

In January 1944, Maghakian volunteered to participate in another assault, against Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands, in the Battle of Kwajalein. After Kwajalein, Maghakian and the Marines landed on the Eniwetok Atoll in February 1944, and continued to capture several more islands. He took part in the Battle of Tinian and was the one who raised the American flag on the island after its capture. Maghakian was part of a Marine force that captured a Japanese aircraft field during the Battle of Saipan.

Early life Victor Maghakian was born on December 30, 1915, in Chicago, Illinois, to an Armenian family. He was the oldest of four brothers and three sisters. Maghakian's great-grandfather was a caravan driver in the Middle East and was respected for his military prowess.

Military career

Early career In 1936, after Maghakian enlisted in the Marine Corps, he was sent to Asia. He was stationed in the Philippines and China for four years. During the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) he was a member of the expedition force in Shanghai. After being sent to many countries, Maghakian's understanding of foreign bases and societies earned him the nickname "Transport". Upon hearing news of the Pearl Harbor attack and America's subsequent participation in the war effort, Maghakian reenlisted in the Marine Corps on January 3, 1942. Maghakian was already acquainted with Carlson during his previous service as a Marine. The Battalion was known for its tough stance on accepting only the best Marines, where only 900 out of 15,000 were accepted, Maghakian at the time being one of them. As the battle continued, Maghakian wrapped up his forearm wounds and struggled to remain conscious. Nevertheless, he managed to repulse an enemy attack with a grenade and bayoneted Japanese soldiers. For his efforts during the raid, he was awarded with the Navy Cross by the United States Navy, the second highest military decoration for valor and extraordinary heroism in combat. thumbnail U.S. Marines arrive at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 26 August 1942 on board the U.S. submarine Nautilus following their raid on Makin Island

After the raid, Maghakian along with other marines received treatment at Pearl Harbor. His name was added onto a list of soldiers who were to return home. When Maghakian overheard of the plans for the campaign of Guadalcanal, he got in touch with Evans Carlson and expressed his desire to join the campaign. Within an hour, Maghakian was taken off the return list. Although his arm was still in a cast stemming from his previous injury, he was shipped to Guadalcanal two weeks later. Maghakian was wounded once more in the wrist, and the watch he was wearing became embedded in his skin and bone.

Late life and death After his participation in World War II, Maghakian became 60 percent disabled. He was a patient at the U.S. Naval hospital in Quantico, Virginia, in October 1945. He then went for more treatment at the Naval hospital in Philadelphia. In 1946, he was subsequently discharged from military duty as a captain. He returned to Fresno and later moved to Las Vegas, where he became a hotel executive and a security consultant from 1954 to 1974.

In 1974, Maghakian returned to Fresno, dying of colon cancer on August 17, 1977, at the age of 61. He is buried at the Armenian Ararat Cemetery in Fresno.

Legacy In 1981, the outpatient clinic of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fresno, California, was named after him. Lee Marvin attended the opening ceremony of the clinic, and during a speech stated:

The 1943 film Gung Ho! was based on the Makin Island raid led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson's 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, which Victor Maghakian participated in. Maghakian was also the technical advisor to the movie.