Having looked into the Somali Blackhawk shootdown, I wouldn't be surprised if the fact that the captured US mate was a pilot may well have saved his bacon. If he was a grunt he would not be worth looking after after and would probably be handed to the angry mob with Mr Machete.
You Sir, are a d
ck
ead of the first, second and third order - your concern about uniform regs is unhealthy to a degree