One of the first enlisted women to report for duty aboard ship in Norfolk, Virginia aboard the USS L.Y. Spear.

In general, your interview should cover three main areas: the subject's most vivid memories, military life and culture and her re-entry into civilian life.

To get the answers you seek, it's best to ask a mix of questions. Some will be specific such as the dates of the individual's service, date of discharge, etc. Others should be more open-ended. Asking someone, “How did you feel about drilling?” gives the interviewee more room to respond than asking “Did you like drilling?”

Concentrate on collecting nitty-gritty information and personal feelings. Have your interviewee describe her uniform (Was it comfortable? How did she feel wearing it?), military quarters (How much space did she have to store her belongings?), her regular routine (Describe a typical day.), and her reaction to various types of duties (How did she feel about sorting mail? Commanding a platoon?).

In general, your interview should cover three main areas: the subject’s most vivid memories, military life and culture and her re-entry into civilian life. To get the answers you seek, it’s best to ask a mix of questions. Some will be specific such as the dates of the individual’s service, date of discharge, etc. Others should be more open-ended. Asking someone, "How did you feel about drilling?" gives the interviewee more room to respond than asking "Did you like drilling?"

Most oral history experts suggest than an interview last no more than an hour or an hour and a half. If you find that you have more material than time, schedule a follow-up interview for a later date.