Troops at the Rear Frustrated

U.S. troops at the rear Sunday expressed frustration that they could not be in the THICK OF THE BATTLE, but were upbeat about the long-awaited land assault. “We thought it was about time we went in,” said Army Specialist Charles Henson, 20, of Columbus, Ohio. “We all wish we could be in a front-line unit,” said Pfc. Matthew Nilan, 20, of Helena, Mont., as he munched nachos and hot dogs at a military cafe. “It’s frustrating.” The soldiers belong to the 201st Military Intelligence unit based in Vint Hills Farm, Va. They heard the news on the radio at dawn Sunday that U.S.-led forces had launched a “final-phase” assault against Iraqi positions to drive Saddam Hussein’s occupation forces out of Kuwait.