 During this time , <unk> continued to direct efforts to strengthen and improve the defenses of the <unk> perimeter . Between 21 August and 3 September , he relocated three Marine battalions — including the 1st <unk> Battalion , under U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Merritt A. <unk> ( <unk> 's Raiders ) , and the 1st Parachute Battalion — from <unk> and <unk> to <unk> . These units added about 1 @,@ 500 troops to <unk> 's original 11 @,@ 000 men defending Henderson Field . The 1st Parachute battalion , which had suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of <unk> and <unk> @-@ <unk> in August , was placed under <unk> 's command . 
