‘Suppressed for a Moment’

With the Army in Iraq:

The Army News Service reports that Capt. John McFarlin, attached to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers’ Military Transition Team, recently had a close call during a battle with insurgents: He owes his life to the Army Combat Helmet.

“While McFarlin’s unit recently responded to attacks on an Iraqi police station in Buhriz, he was hit in the helmet with a shot from an AK-47.

“I was suppressed for a moment and then I got back up” and returned fire, said McFarlin. “…Things are going to happen. You’ve got your equipment: you’ve got your IBAS, you’ve got your Kevlar and you’ve got your eye pro. (You need to) offer as little target as you need while doing your job.”

Suppressed? Is that the same as stunned?

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3 Replies to “‘Suppressed for a Moment’”

  1. Stunned would be if I were disoriented and didn’t know what happened.
    Suppressed is when you get down because it seemed like the guy who was shooting at you was on target and it was a good idea to drop down for a moment. It’s a technical term and I chose it because it means “the target chooses to conceal itself instead of presenting.”
    When the gunners on the other two HMMWVs engaged him, then HE was suppressed.

  2. Dear John:
    I guess I will take the word of the man who found
    himself in that situation. I honestly thought
    “suppressed” was jargon for “out of action” and read
    your description as “out of action for a moment.”
    Thanks for the clarification. And thanks, most of all,
    for the dedicaton it takes to serve in such a
    challenging environment.

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