Captain Victor "Transport" Maghakian (Armenian: Վիգդոր Մաղաքեան; 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.

During the Makin Island raid, Maghakian led the charge onto the beachhead with a landing force and fought while suffering a forearm wound.

Although he was supposed to return home afterward, Maghakian requested to join the Guadalcanal campaign, and was shipped two weeks later.

After Kwajalein, Maghakian and the Marines landed on the Eniwetok Atoll in February 1944, and continued to capture several more islands.

Maghakian was part of a Marine force that captured a Japanese aircraft field during the Battle of Saipan.

In 1930, the Maghakian family moved to San Diego, California, where he originally decided to join the United States Navy.

[5] 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.

During his service with the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions and the Raiders, Maghakian fought in seven major battles and was wounded three times.

[6] During the war in 1942, Victor Maghakian immediately applied to join the Second Marine Raider Battalion under the command of Colonel Evans Carlson.

[3] The raid was launched on August 17, 1942, as Maghakian led the charge onto the beachhead with a landing force but was the first casualty in this operation suffering from a forearm wound while waving his hand for instructions.

[8] During the campaign, Maghakian and other Raiders were ambushed under hostile sniper and machine gun fire by Japanese troops.

[3][8] After the campaign, Maghakian returned to the mainland and spent two months in a navy hospital in Oakland, California.

On January 31, the Marine Corps landed on the island and within an hour managed to kill 18 Japanese soldiers and take two prisoners.

Maghakian is credited for killing the last five enemy soldiers who were encamped in a trench in the northernmost point of the islet.

When following the footprints that were spotted on the beach shore, it led the platoon to a pile of palm fronds under a coconut tree.

His gallant devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[6][19] Lee Marvin attended the opening ceremony of the clinic, and during a speech stated: Most of us stayed alive due to his excellent training.

was based on the Makin Island raid led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson's 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, which Victor Maghakian participated in.

[2][6] On September 17, 1996, during the 2nd Session of the 104th Congress, U.S. Representative George Radanovich paid tribute to Victor Maghakian's dedication and service to the United States Military during World War II.