Carlson's raiders, along with troops from the U.S. Army's 147th Infantry Regiment, were to provide security for 500 Seabees as they attempted to construct an airfield at that location.
Carlsons soldater, tillsammans med trupper ur det amerikanska arméns 147:e infanteriregementet, skulle skydda 500 Seabees när de försökte konstruera ett flygfält på den platsen.