JAMES EBY
Veterans Corner
The Right Attitude
“Growing your leadership capacity demands personal effectiveness. Being effective is the ability to do the right thing at all times, no matter the cost.” ~~ Benjamin Suulola
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James Eby in his office at Southwest Indian Foundation (SWIF)
The USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii. 28
September 2018
By Sandra McKinney
t is always a pleasure to see a young person with great drive and ambition. One can see that positive energy and attitude in James Eby. This young man of only 29 years exhibits wisdom and a desire to succeed generally found only in a much older person. Strong upbringing, along with moral and spiritual ethics have all played a big part in his presence and in being an “old soul!” James Eby was born in Gallup, New Mexico, in 1989 at the Indian Health Service Hospital to Joe and Gina Eby. Joe Eby, a silversmith by trade, works with silver and stone, and Gina Eby works with her talents by painting and sculpting with clay. James grew up in a Christian home, as his father was a minister. His father’s ministry took them to numerous different destinations including Durango, Colorado; then on to Rio Rancho, New Mexico; back to Gallup and then to Redding, California. It was in Redding that James realized his desire to enlist in the United States Military as the very first person in his family to serve. James saw the U.S. Army as an avenue for growth, adventure, and an opportunity for a college education. “I found my time in the United States Army to be totally satisfying. I truly enjoyed the camaraderie and brotherhood experienced while serving,” James states proudly. Spending a total of nine years on active duty in the Army, Eby achieved the rank of Specialist at his separation date. “I found that army life was actually more simple than civilian life; the pay was good; the personal responsibilities were minimal without the need to pay for rent, food, or utilities. It felt good each day to know exactly what was expected of me and to follow the rules and the daily regimen,” Eby explains. “Now the professional responsibilities were considerably more demanding with the first priority being the art of survival!” Eby was initially stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina where he trained as a paratrooper and as an instructor in hand-tohand combat and small arms use. He was also trained in specialty marksman classes. He was deployed with his Unit 18th Airborne Corps to Kuwait where he shared his training with others. “I learned early on while training others that no one is treated differently; I trained women, men, senior officers, and they all received the same respect and the same level of training,” states Eby. “I think one of the biggest challenges I encountered, though, was seeing new recruits come in with such an entitlement attitude. We were there to take orders and to do a job, but some thought it was beneath them,” Eby says with a perplexed look. Additional time was then spent stateside at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, from where Eby was deployed to Iraq. “I worked as a
