Video-blog segment: Here it is – click here – , the promised once-a-week video-element to this blog. It’s “one-take,” and rough around the edges. I’d appreciate your candid appraisals – DEREK
STORY: (check in at The Osprey Observer for full versions of these interviews) I had an interesting experience yesterday, while conducting three more interviews for my series on veterans who served in the armed forced during WW2 and other times of national crisis.
What happened raised the question – for me – of, “Whose story is it?” and, “When does a story transcend privacy and really belong to history?”
(My thoughts have also been prompted by recent controversy regarding the coverage of private grief in public places, most notably an image of a woman on her knees, praying in front of a church the day of the Newtown shootings. “My grief was private,” she insisted. “The place was public,” countered others.)
LIVING HISTORY: And so I returned to the retirement community where I’m in the process of interviewing men and women with some amazing stories. I talked with John Newcomb (pictured with his son, Mike), who served in the Air Force before enjoying a long career as an engineer with Boeing. Then I was fascinated by William Templeman’s varied career in the Navy, as a Warrant Officer in the Reserve, as a school guidance counselor, and even in television with WEDU.
Then I spent an hour with one more gentleman, an interesting and deeply intelligent soldier with vast experience. His work placed him in close proximity with some of the key players in mid 20th century military history.
STOP THE PRESSES! Eventually, 50-minutes into the conversation, because of the tone of a couple of his comments, I said: “Are you sure you’re OK with these questions? Your last answer was a little hesitant.”
“I consider this a huge intrusion,” he retorted. “My life is none of your d___ business!”
He was angry. His voice was raised. He was visibly upset.
“Would you rather I didn’t publish your story in the newspaper?” I asked.
“Can you do that?” he responded.
“It’s your story,” I said. “If you don’t want me to write it, then I won’t. In fact, if you’d like me to I’ll delete this interview right now.”
“I’d like that,” he said.
So I did. I cued up the file on my digital recorder and I let him watch as I hit the “delete” button.
Almost immediately he relaxed. And I told him that – for me – it was an hour well spent, regardless. Because we had enjoyed this great conversation and my life was enriched because of him. I told him I was grateful for the experience, and I told him I felt privileged to know him.
The recording/file is gone, but I do have his photograph for my own collection (with his permission). And, other than the one priceless quote he gave me that I’m going to conclude today’s post with, this one retired soldier’s story is going to have to be limited to being a part of my general background for the Big Picture story in my head.
MacARTHUR: It’s a shame; because there’s not a human being on the face of this earth who doesn’t have a story worth sharing. But at least he did share it with me, and my prayer is that the telling of the tale provided a measure of healing for this man’s wounded spirit.
So here’s my one quote from the interview. As a soldier, serving in the Philippines, my new friend worked in the building occupied by the legendary General Douglas MacArthur.
“So you met MacArthur?” I asked.
“Meet General MacArthur?” he laughed…. “You don’t meet God!”
nice story of the humble and privacy loving generation of Servicemen past. I appreciate you respecting his wishes and telling us that he ‘was’ willing to tell the story, but just not for publication. says alot about a persons right to tell versus a publication’s right to tell. sometimes there is the fear of exploitation or just ‘loss of control’ over the telling of your own story.
the vblog was a good format also. carry on !
-mike
🙂 🙂
The video is brillant! I think it does open up the interaction between you as the writer and me as the reader and makes the conversation more immediate.
So yes, great idea & please continue!
🙂
I’ve been pondering this idea since, last week, I had the opportunity to fly with a former ball turret gunner in a B-24. Sitting next to him, watching him look around that airplane felt a bit like an intrusion. As a reporter, you want to get the story, but I was compelled to wait for him to share with me. He did, and with enthusiasm. But only some things. There is so much truth and wisdom and perspective we are losing as humanity as these men pass away. But this is their wisdom and truth and perspective, hard earned, and doled out as they see fit.
Good observation, Adam
On a related note…I’m just finishing up a terrific read: “A Higher Call.” It paints a very unique and personal picture of combat flight in WW2, much of it from the German perspective. the story emanates from a single incident: In the skies over Germany at the height of Allied bombing, a German fighter pilot chose not to shoot down a heavily wounded B17. His decision, had it been reported, would have cost him his life. The author, Adam Makos, wanted to know “why not?” The story he tells is incredible.
I’ll have to check that out. Sounds like a great story.
Great blog.
Nice to finally have a voice to the blogs. Keep the video.