Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-6747658-20130401084750/@comment-82.69.15.188-20130411193129

Exactly, the Bowie Knife on his thigh, that and all the other reasons I gave. Plus, Gene WAS of a high rank and was heavilly affiliated with Zero and what would become the Patriots, which is ultimatley what matters, don't forget that he was a major player within the conspiracy and therefore even if he did technically hold a junior officer rank he still would have been in a leading position when the Patriots influence was widespread, as it is by this point.

Additionally when he dies in MGS PO it just looks like he passes out so the developers could easilly say that he survived the fight and go from there. After all, even after the wounds he sustained from Big Boss he still had enough energy to pass on the microfilm to Snake and enough verbal influence to cement Big Boss' future ambitions.