Choiseul Island was a very new Allied target, made as the Navy and Marines pushed farther northwest to territories in the Solomon's formerly held by the Japanese. With time of the essence, Kennedy was not allowed to fully re-fuel his boat. Berndsten knew Kennedy did not have enough fuel to make the trip there and back with his gas tanks less than a third full, around seven hundred gallons, so he sent two additional PT's to accompany him and provide support if necessary. Completing their Northbound route to Choiseul, "PT-59" first arrived near the shore of the Marine outpost at Voza Village and picked up Kennedy's friend from Rendova, Lieutenant Richard Keresey and Lt. Col. Victor Krulak, leader of operation Blissful, who acted as guides. Both officers were picked up from a landing craft near the shore. Motoring around further northwest, and following Choiseul's coastline, the "59" arrived in the rain and darkness at the base of the Warrior River around 6:00 p.m. on 1 November, and helped personnel landing craft evacuate 40 to 50 Marines from a company led by Marine Major Warren T. Bigger.