1942 saw the Marine defense battalions reinforce, redeploy and grow. On 4 June, the Marines of the 6th Defense Battalion at Midway Island fended off a Japanese aerial attack, which contributed to the victory of the naval battle hundreds of miles away. On 7 August, the 3rd Defense Battalion went ashore at Guadalcanal in support of the 1st Marine Division. After Henderson Airfield was secured, the battalion assumed perimeter security and repulsed several enemy counterattacks.