As the Americans closed on Hill 43 from the south, a group of Japanese soldiers near Oka's command post spotted the U.S. soldiers as they crossed a stream and attacked immediately, threatening the flank of the American column.
Da amerikanerne nærmede sig Hill 43 sydfra opdagede en gruppe japanske soldater nær Okas kommandopost de amerikanske soldater da de krydsede et vandløb og angreb straks hvorved de truede den amerikanske kolonnes flanke.