Ichiki's main body of troops arrived at the east bank of Alligator Creek and were surprised completely to encounter the Marine positions, not having expected to find U.S. forces located that distance from the airfield. Nearby U.S. Marines listening posts heard "clanking" sounds, human voices, and other noises before withdrawing to the west bank of the creek. At 01:30 Ichiki's force opened fire with machine guns and mortars on the Marine positions on the west bank of the creek, and a first wave of about 100 Imperial soldiers charged across the sandbar towards the Marines. Ichiki's main body of troops arrived at the east bank of Alligator Creek just after midnight on August 21, Ichiki's main body of troops arrived at the east bank of Alligator Creek and were surprised completely to encounter the Marine positions, having not expected to find U.S. troops waded through the U.S. forces located that distance from the airfield. Nearby U.S. Marines listening posts heard "clanking" sounds, human voices, and other noises before withdrawing to the west
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