Marine LtCol Thomas Jasper - This Day in Marine Corps History - August 9

9 August 1942: With the Guadalcanal airstrip secure after heavy fighting with the Japanese, the 1st Engineer Battalion commenced work on the runway using captured equipment. Three days later, on 12 August, the first plane landed on Henderson Field, a Navy PBY which evacuated two wounded Marines. Nearly 3,000 wounded Marines would be evacuated from Henderson Field during the battle.

Source: http://www.usmchangout.com/military/branches/usmc/history/thisdayinhistory.htm#.VcPXQvlViko