Despite the problems in reaching the planned attack positions, Kawaguchi was still confident in his attack plan because a captured U.S. pilot disclosed that the ridge was the weakest part of the Marine defenses.
Trods problemerne med at nå frem til de planlagde angrebsstillinger bevarede Kawaguchi troen på sin angrebsplan fordi en tilfangetaget amerikansk pilot afslørede, at højderyggen var den svageste del af marineinfanteriets linje.