Sample Interview Topics

Every veteran has an important and unique story to tell. When Remember Their Service videotapes you, we want you to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible. We will record you in your home or wherever you feel most comfortable. Our only requirement is that we can record good quality audio and pictures so we generally will try to not record in noisy or oddly lit locations.

Your biography/interview session will be based on your experiences and the stories you want to share. We want the video to be a “complete” story so the DVD we send to the Library of Congress and the copy we give to you will be useful and valuable to the people viewing over the years. To help create your story, the following list is provided to help organize your thoughts. This list should give you an idea of how we want to surround your service experiences with background information about you and your family prior to your joining the military and what it was like coming home to civilian life after your tour ended.
 
 
1. A Few Biographical Details.

  • Where and when the veteran was born.
  • Family details: parents’ occupations, number and gender of siblings.
  • What the veteran was doing before entering the service.
  • Other family members who served in the military.

2. Early Days of Service.

  • How the veteran entered service—draft or enlistment.
  • If enlistment, why and the reason for choosing a specific branch of service.
  • Departure for training camp, early days of training.
  • Specialized training, if applicable.
  • Adapting to military life: physical regimen, barracks, food, social life.

3. Wartime Service.

  • Where veteran served.
  • Details of the trip abroad, if applicable.
  • Action witnessed, or duties away from the front line.
  • If applicable, emotions relating to combat—witnessing casualties, destruction.
  • Friendships formed and camaraderie of service.
  • How veteran stayed in touch with family and friends back home; communication from home.
  • Recreation or off­duty pursuits.

4. War’s End or Coming Home.

  • Where veteran was when war or tour ended.
  • How he or she returned home.
  • Their reception by family and community.
  • Readjustment to civilian life.
  • Contact with fellow veterans over the years; membership in veterans’ organizations.

5. Reflections.

  • How their wartime experiences affected veteran’s life.
  • Life lessons learned from military service.