99 Infantry Battalion (Separate) (USA) moved to Würselen
The unit also moved up to Würselen where the mission was to attack and close the gap between the XIX Corps and the VII Corps. The town of Würselen was located just outside Aachen and part of the mission was to close the Aachen-Cologne highway to prevent the Germans from escaping along this important road. On the first day of the battle, October 16, the 99th moved up to the attack in the face of a murderous cross-fire from well-fixed enemy positions. Concrete pill-boxes, dug-in-tanks, and many fox-holes on the commanding ground, gave the enemy a tremendous advantage over the advancing force. In spite of this the day's mission was accomplished and the objectives secured before nightfall. During the night and in the early morning positions were bombed and strafed by enemy planes. The next day the enemy counter-attacked in strength supported by tanks. Elements of the 99th were temporarily dislodged but succeeded in reorganizing quickly and re-took their original positions. Meanwhile the Germans massed their artillery and zeroed in on all positions, shelling them day and night without pause except when they were attacking. The largest force of enemy artillery in entire sector attempted to blast open an escape route through the unit, but like their determined counter-attacks, they were doomed to failure. Each night enemy fighter planes and light bombers dropping anti-personnel bombs and strafing the 99th's positions added to the din and uproar of bursting shells.