page_title: Victor Maghakian
section_title: Battle of Eniwetok
hierarchical_section_title: Victor Maghakian / World War II / Battle of Eniwetok
caption_attribution_description: English: Sgt. Victor 'transport' Maghakian with Japanese soldier's family found hiding in a cave and urged to come out by Chamorro guides with Marine units. July 1944 (#89730, National Archives).
context_page_description: Victor Maghakian, also known as Captain Victor "Transport" Maghakian, was an Armenian American member of the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Having received over two dozen medals and awards, he is considered one of the most decorated American soldiers of the war.
context_section_description: After success at Kwajalein, Maghakian and  Marine scouts landed on the Eniwetok Atoll, an island 350 miles north of Kwajalein in February 1944. The scouts hopped from one of the Atoll islands to the next, managing to take control of six islands. Orders soon arrived to secure more islands in the south. As the scouts patrolled the islets in the morning, the company smelled smoke that was distinguishable from Navy shelling. 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. The platoon was ambushed by Japanese machine gun fire. Maghakian managed to gun down the ambushers with his carbine. As the battle ensued, Maghakian killed the last four Japanese soldiers on Mellu island. During the battle, Maghakian saved the life of a young Lee Marvin. During the night, numerous Japanese soldiers attempted to attack the Marine encampment. However, these efforts ended in failure with seventeen Japanese soldiers dead. Maghakian managed to kill twelve Japanese soldiers by the end of the campaign.
caption: Sgt. Victor Maghakian in July 1944 with Japanese soldier's family found hiding in a cave and urged to come out by Chamorro guides with Marine units in Saipan.
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