NATCHEZ — Bill Slatter is a preservationist who not only cares for houses, lands and antiques from days gone by, but who also is taking steps to ensure memories and stories from World War II are remembered.

Slatter, a former broadcast journalist, has been putting his reporting skills to work by sitting down with members of “America’s greatest generation” and uncovering their war stories.

“I just decided years ago that I ought to be interviewing some veterans of WWII for no particular reason other than they should be interviewed,” Slatter said.

“It’s my own little contribution to society.”

So far, Slatter said he’s interviewed 15 WWII servicemen from all lines of combat, but he’s looking for more faces and stories to capture on film.

“This is a puzzle, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing more people,” Slatter said.

Every veteran Slatter said he’s interviewed has remembered his time in the war with pride and often with fond memories.

“I’ve asked almost everybody how they felt about their service and they all say, yes, it was something they treasured,” Slatter said. “One guy said, ‘I wouldn’t do it again for a million dollars, but I wouldn’t take a million for it, either.”

“Everybody wanted to be in that war — wanted to be part of dangerous assignments. WWII was that kind of war where we all wanted to go,” Slatter said. “It was the war that everyone was proud to be part of. There simply hasn’t been a war since then that has been anything like that.”

Slatter, 82, said even he got to be part of the war effort when he was drafted.

“I barely made it into WWII. I was in boot camp when the war ended,” Slatter said.

While 15 stories have been told, Slatter said there are many more he’s interested in preserving, if only veterans would come forward with their experiences.

“I’d like to hear from some black veterans. It’s hard for me to figure out ways to reach out and find them.”

Slatter said he missed out on the opportunity to ask his father about his war experiences and would hate for others to not to share their experiences.

“My own father was prisoner of war of the Germans for three years,” Slatter said.

Slatter said his father served in the Canadian army and was captured a year after he stepped into WWI.

“I’ve often regretted not having asked him about it.”

Slatter’s recorded interviews are not only serving to preserve the past, but also giving families memories and stories of their heritage on film.

“I’m giving people I’ve interviewed tapes of their interview so they can have it for their family,” Slatter said.

Slatter said he hopes show the interviews publicly.

“I’m looking for any groups who would like to see these interviews,” Slatter said. “It would be nice to have a place for them to be shown.”

Slatter also said he hopes to keep interviewing veterans who are interested in sharing their experiences.

“I certainly would love to hear from other people. (To be interviewed) is a painless process,” he said.

Veterans of WWII can contact Slatter at 601-446-9401 to find out more about how to become involved with his project.