99 Infantry Battalion (Separate) (USA) withdrew one-half mile to the northwest of Malmedy day 2
On the afternoon of the 19th of December the rest of the Battalion withdrew one-half mile to the northwest of Malmedy while "B" Company remained in position. The company remaining in position fought off patrols and on the 20th changed positions with "B" Company of the 120th Regiment. The change was effected during the hours of darkness. "B" Company of the 99th dug in along the top of a railway embankment about fifteen feet in height, and covered a front of about 1000 yards. Directly in front lay a broad field flanked by heavily wooded hills. The field covered an expanse of about 500 yards before it reached the trees and the approaches to it were deep draws in the mountains. The field of fire was excellent and the entire position was ideal for defense. The riflemen and machine gunners were dug in at the top of the embankment and directly behind them were the light mortars of the weapon platoon protected by the embankment. Back along the edge of the town were heavy machine-guns and anti-tank guns trained on the two underpasses which were dynamited at a later date to impair passage of enemy tanks attempting to break through. At the time of the initial attack each of the underpasses was covered by an anti-tank gun which was drawn up with its nose practically protruding through this breach in the Battalion defenses.