I find the comments about being a John Wayne rather amusing. I am a little younger than this man, but the term was still widely used. It was, however, not used as a derogative but as a warning. Officers and NCOs would tell a young private not to be a John Wayne; not because John Wayne was the individualistic hero who rebelled against orders, but because we privates were just too stupid and inexperienced to be able to be the individualistic hero the John Wayne exemplified.
One never heard the warning given to experienced or combat-seasoned soldiers. This man clearly did not understand the lesson. It had nothing to do with "not following orders". It had everything to do with taking action without the requisite knowledge and experience needed to accomplish the mission.
And, as everyone should know, accomplishing the mission is (or at least was) all that matters in the military. If the mission was accomplished, any and all violations of procedure would be overlooked. (Today's military, unfortunately, seems to have strayed from this basic principle--much like the new SSPX.)