Bouck Lyle 2

Recording and preserving oral histories is important to ensure that memories of historical events are not forgotten. Hannah Daly of the National World War II Museum emphasizes the need to limit distractions and ask open-ended questions when conducting interviews. An example of a well-done interview can be found in the conversation between Seth Peridon and World War II veteran Lyle Buch. In the interview, Buch talks about going on patrols during the war and some interesting experiences they had, including not losing anyone and bringing back captured Germans. Recording the stories of the past is a tradition as old as time. Stories passed down allow that specific memory to far transcend the participant. With great innovations in technology in the past century alone, video recordings or oral histories give an audience the chance to hear of historical events straight from the mouth of someone who witnessed it. However, not all stories are recorded, and those that are must be taken care of diligently to ensure the memory is not forgotten. Hannah Daly of the National World War II Museum has the immense responsibility of collecting these oral histories of veterans from this war. She recalls the importance of making sure these are done right by limiting any and all distractions before recording. Moreover, she emphasizes the importance of prompting questions which inhibit a broad response, not just a typical yes-no. An example of how this is done well and poorly can be found in this interview of World War II veteran Lyle Buch, interviewed by Seth Peridon of the National World War II Museum. Let's listen. You guys, you went on patrols I guess for that whole month. We did. I didn't go all the time. I went probably half of the time. Who would lead them if you didn't lead them? Slate would lead them? Slate. And he seemed eager to do it. Anything interesting happen on any of the other patrols? Well, we didn't lose anyone. I think that was interesting. There were times that they got trapped. There were times that they brought a few Germans back. I can't remember all of that exactly. I just know that it happened. You guys, you went on patrols I guess for that whole month. We did. I didn't go all the time. I went probably half of the time. Who would lead them if you didn't lead them? Slate would lead them? Slate. And he seemed eager to do it. Anything interesting happen on any of the other patrols? Well, we didn't lose anyone. I think that was interesting. There were times that they got trapped. There were times that they brought a few Germans back. I can't remember all of that exactly. I just know that it happened.