I Get To Interview A Wwii Veteran

Mullet · April 2004

<div class="IPBDescription">UDT</div> I have the opportunity to interview a WWII veteran for my history class. I get to interview a Navy UDT man who completed 18 landings. I've been thinking of quesitons all night and I havn't thought of anything besides some generic questions....What do you guys think I should ask? I'd really like to know because some people here probably know more about this kind of topic than I do and I really want to ask this guy serious questions and not just waste his time.... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />

Omegaman · April 2004

Are you sure you dont want any joking replies saying "Ask him if he ever gibbed a nazi" ?

BadKarma · April 2004

Those UDT guys didnt mess around, its a great oppoutunity to get to interview one.

Aegeri · April 2004

You can balance things between relating his war experience, to the way things were off duty and how his family back home were thinking. This can be rather important, because continually making someone dredge up their combat memories can make them quite upset (in some cases).

DragonMech · April 2004

Here's a tip: Don't ask questions. Let him tell his story, as he wants. 9 times out if 10, he will tell you things you would never <i>dream</i> of asking him.

Cold_NiTe · April 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dragon_Mech @ Apr 28 2004, 11:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Here's a tip: Don't ask questions. Let him tell his story, as he wants. 9 times out if 10, he will tell you things you would never <i>dream</i> of asking him.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Very true. Especially if he is used to the whole public speaking thing. Which it sounds like he is.

CplDavis · April 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cold-NiTe @ Apr 28 2004, 11:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dragon_Mech @ Apr 28 2004, 11:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Here's a tip: Don't ask questions. Let him tell his story, as he wants. 9 times out if 10, he will tell you things you would never <i>dream</i> of asking him. </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>
Very true. Especially if he is used to the whole public speaking thing. Which it sounds like he is.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Make sure you know a little about what his job was about, if you can show him that you have some idea and you show interest he wil definitly open up more and maybe tell you some really juicy stuff.

pismofilmdude · April 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cpl.Davis @ Apr 28 2004, 11:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Make sure you know a little about what his job was about, if you can show him that you have some idea and you show interest he wil definitly open up more and maybe tell you some really juicy stuff.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Best advice yet...

UZi · April 2004

I used to record tapes for Vets to tell their story. i should covert them to DVD...the best ones are the marines in vietnam.

eediot · April 2004

in case the above approach [let him say what he's comfortable saying] doesnt work, and he doesnt want to get started or he is on irrelevent rambles... here are some back-up questions..

ask him things about:

how he felt about the enemy then, and how he feels about them now
does he feel the war has taken a part of him away - or has it given him a new part of himself? was it a good experience or a negative part of himself [im not talking about war, but the experience and character it provides us with through its experiences]
if there was anything he could change, what would he do
if there was anything he could say to the people he killed, or the family, what would it be?
does he feel he served his country, or did his service? how does he feel about war...

etc etc... generic questions, but really its not the question that matters but their response.

good luck, and another tip, that i have nothing to justify with, but its worth considering...

dont take in a pen/paper or written questions. memorise any questions, and just bring in a discreet tape recorder and make sure its set up... i dont know why, but if its less like an interview and more like just sincere personal questions, it might help... it really depends on him.

good luck <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />

uzi would you please convert to computer format, and share? that would be amazing...

I Get To Interview A Wwii Veteran

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