As a flanking counterstroke to halt the North Korean advance, General Douglas MacArthur ordered an amphibious assault against Inchon, the "strategic solar plexus of Korea," to be carried out on 15 September. James E. Kyes arrived off Inchon the 15th to guard Boxer (CV-21) as her aircraft conducted preinvasion strikes. Remaining off Inchon until 3 October, the destroyer sailed via Sasebo to Korea's east coast for patrol duty.