The whole thing is the COMFORT level. I have found that out during the last six years or so.
When first meeting "my boys", I found some were a bit reluctant, but as they became more comfortable with me, more and more came spilling out. And not everyone is the same of course; some still say very little, that's just the nature of the beast. Some have shared some very intimate things, and now there's nothing to stop them.
My buddy and I were filming one day, but when we got to one point, the vet asked if we could turn off the camera, and said, this is just for us. You have to respect that. And when you do, you gain that trust. Very important. I know you already understand that, and it's great.
Also, this is not directed at you, but those who are going to perform interviews in the future; know your STUFF. Be prepared. One of my vet friends was got very annoyed when interviewed by a twenty-something, a while back. The interviewer wasn't very knowledgeable, and the vet was getting very impatient. He made assumptions he landed at Normandy, and the vet was had already been at war since 1942! Many of the questions were mundane, and there were times when he should have let the vet talk about things important to him, instead of cutting him off and going on to another question. It's all a learning curve.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"