The Most Important Question I Ask

I often find the best rules of thumb for life go hand-in-hand with the best rules for writing and editing. In this case, a parenting tactic is one of the strategies that has wide-reaching applications at the end of an interview.

“Do you have anything else you want to tell me?”

While this may have been used as a shame tactic on teens forming lies of omission (not saying it was used on me, not saying it wasn’t), in an interview with a source I use it as a catchall. Usually the answer amounts to not much–“No, I think we’ve pretty much covered it”–or a PR pitch that I didn’t need. But the few times it’s come in handy it doesn’t just serve as a CYA policy, but given the story the most important facets and details. When a longer interview goes well, a source warms up and might be willing to share something they hadn’t thought of or been willing to at the beginning of the conversation, particularly for cold calls.

For Pearl Harbor survivor Will Lehner’s story, the most important piece of the puzzle didn’t appear until I asked that question, thinking the conversation was wrapping up–not only starting. His ship sank a Japanese submarine about an hour before the attack, and for years, it wasn’t on record. Few would believe him or his fellow sailors. It wasn’t until 2000 he went with a team led by Bob Ballard (the guy who found the Titanic) to search for the sub, and not until 2002 with another research team that it was uncovered and his story “checked out,” gumshoes. Little old me? I didn’t know any of that until after we had talked about Indiana, driving (the next time he’ll need to renew his license he’ll be 103) and his post-military career.

Click here to read how Lehner’s incredible story was stitched neatly into a full circle over six decades.

For Valentine’s Day, a Transatlantic love story

Old photo of Joyce and William Hastings

Need a Valentine’s Day pick-me-up? How about a real love story amidst all the saccharine candy hearts?

Read this story about two World War II veterans who found each other and fell in love during the war.

Though many celebrate this holiday as “Singles Awareness Day,” I’m happy to think of William and Joyce Hastings–who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Their friends contacted the American Legion to surprise them with a story. It was fun to write and research in cognito, and their friends were a hoot. Here’s to 70 more years of happiness and companionship.

December Veteran Story

When an unstoppable grade school girl found out her friend, a World War II veteran, hadn’t received his medals for his service, heads were bound to roll. Talking to Leanna’s mother and Mr. Mowbray, the veteran, it became clear to me how serious this student was, how true a friend and how fiery a spark plug.

Read this inspiring story of how one girl’s perseverance led to a quiet man receiving his due 67 years late.

Her quest began during a school project to record veterans’ stories for the Library of Congress. Listen to his war stories here.

September Veteran Story

September Veteran Story

Talking with Eugene Prieto about his quest to find out the truth about his uncle Roaul, who was KIA in World War 2. Roaul died when Eugene was just a boy. It shook him. Rather than accepting the terms of this tragedy, Eugene has pushed as far as Congress to get his uncle the peace in afterlife he feels he deserves. Click on the link above to read the story.