[dragoon500ly]

Alligator Creek was the watercourse anchoring the eastern perimeter of the Marines. In spite of its name, it was not a creek, but rather a tidal lagoon that emptied into the sea only during the monsoon season, or after a storm. It was no more than 100 feet wide at any point and was separated from the sea by a sandbar that varied from 25-50 feet and rose 10 feet above the "creek". The west bank was slightly higher than the east bank.

On August 20th, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines manned the west bank of Alligator Creek from a point about 1,000 yards inland north of the sandbar, From the corner formed by the sandbar, the 2nd Battalion's line turned sharply west and linked with the right flank of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The work of clearing vegatation to extend the line 3,500 yards further inland had begun, but was not yet complete by this date. On the sand bar near the west bank, the marines strung a single-strand barbed-wire fence. Dug-in machineguns covered the sand bar and because Alligator Creek approached the sea at an oblique angle "upstream" guns could rake the bar and the portion of the east bank connected to it. A 37mm antitank gun was positioned to sweep the bar and an extra supply of cannister rounds lay ready. The angle itself was held by a platoon from Company G, 1st Marines and two platoons of the 1st Special Weapons Battalion (some 100 marines). A thin line of outposts and small patrols watched from the eastern bank.

At 1200 hours on August 20th, Colonel Ichiki held an orders group and issued his attack plan. With little regard for the Marine dispositions, he ordered a march down the beach, ending in an assault on the old Japanese camp near Lunga Point and then fanning out to capture the airfield. A small party of engineers would scout out crossing sites and the first company would head out after 2000 hours. The order of march would be three rifle companies, with the battalion headquarters leading the detachment headquarters, the machine gun company and the battalion gun platoon, then the remaining rifle company with the engineer company bringing up the rear.

It was pitch-dark as Ichiki's men approached Alligator Creek. The Marine outposts had reported hearing voices and metallis sounds and were withdrawn. About 2400 hours, a sentry at the point fired at a shape that didn't answer his challenge. Rifle fire began to rattle across the tidal lagoon, engaging the engineer patrol and the lead company of Ichiki's detachment. Colonel Ichiki arrived at about 0030 hours and conferred with his battalion commander and the leading company commander. He ordered an assault across the sand bar by a strong detachment, under covering fire. At 0200 hours, a green flare was launched, signaling the start of the attack.