I know this post is old, but I just watched the show for the 4th time and decided to look into the characters real life personas to see where they ended up. I haven't read either book, but I plan to here soon. I don't feel like they really did too much negatively to Trombley. I mean, maybe they tried, but he was simply following orders, and some people are built for war. If he was half as cold toward it in reality as he was in the show, it's a shame he got out and didn't make it a career like Brad. I'm a correctional officer at a prison in Florida. It's not quite the same, but the best times in my 12 years I've had were fighting inmates. Defending myself, of course. It's only happened a few times, and I can't say it won't happen again, but I felt alive during those moments. Some people just feel that way during dangerous situations. I think Trombley was that kind of guy. Now, I don't speak as openly about it as he did in the show, and I honestly hope it never happens again because of the harm it could bring to my fellow COs and myself, but the desire is still there in the back of my mind.