I have seen TOOOOOO many guys that were Grade A @$$holes but people would say...... "But he's a great Fireman". Tom was a great Paramedic and Firefighter. His ego was always in check and he always respected others. I never respected the guys who let their skills cover for their lack of maturity. My first 8 years on the job, I worked with a guy who was not the biggest ball of fire but his character was larger than his enthusiasm for the job. I trusted him more than the several of the skilled / Gung Ho guys who were always trying to prove something. (Dangerous as hell on the fire ground)
Sigh. I'm rambling. But like mentioned , such friends of such character are rare.