My Lust For Discovery

About the Book

This is a life history characterized by an unusual variety of experiences.  The author selects memoirs written between 1969 and 2004 to treat his life long urge to discover reality in the unknown, the unseen, and the untried.  A corollary has been his demand for mental freedom.  Mr. Carter’s knowledge of history and geography is evident, as is his courage and perseverance.

About the Author

            Ledford C. Carter is a retired filmmaker, Army officer, and college professor who lives with his wife Julia at Meadowood Retirement Community Center in Bloomington, IN.

At Indiana University, he taught courses in motion picture production and writing for educational media.  Concurrently with his teaching he wrote and produced 72 short films. 450 prints of them were distributed to film libraries for use mainly in public schools.  The composite audiences for his films numbered in the millions.  A number of Carter’s films won National awards.

            For 16 years he was editor for film reviews for the monthly Journal of Geography.  He also wrote articles for other professional magazines.

His U.S. Army career began as a volunteer recruit in June 1941.  A few years later he trained replacements for the Field Artillery Branch, followed by experience with Infantry and Air Corps branches.  His overseas service was with the 81^st Division in Leyte, P.I and Japan.  In the Army Reserves after World War II, Mr. Carter was in units of the Civil Affairs and Intelligence Branches.  He retired in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1971.

Mr. Carter’s hobbies include reading, writing, playing the piano and organ, choral singing, tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball (three trophies) hiking, bridge, scrabble, attending operas, concerts, ballet, and plays, travel and genealogy.  His travel and genealogical experiences provided much of the materials for this book.