Carlton Morris Reflects on War, Faith, and Survival in Random Thoughts of an Old Man in a Rocking Chair

Los Angeles, California Oct 7, 2026 (Issuewire.com) Carlton Morris brings decades of lived experience, military service, spiritual questioning, and personal reflection together in Random Thoughts of an Old Man in a Rocking Chair, a memoir shaped by some of the defining events of the twentieth century.

The book looks back on a childhood formed during the Great Depression, a young life influenced by war, and years of service that included the Korean War era, the Vietnam War, submarine and destroyer assignments, air traffic control, Navy recruiting, and later work as a military warden. Alongside those experiences, Morris examines the evolution of his religious beliefs, including a long period of spiritual doubt that began in 1951 and a renewed sense of faith that emerged decades later.

Rather than presenting a conventional autobiography, Carlton Morris gathers memories, observations, family history, successes, failures, and homespun philosophy into a personal meditation on meaning, belief, and survival. His reflections move between childhood, military life, family relationships, national events, religion, and the lessons drawn from a long and varied life.

The memoir also received a RECOMMENDED distinction from The US Review of Books. Barbara Bamberger Scott highlighted the books spirited blend of personal history, philosophical reflection, and commentary on war, peace, faith, family, and social change. The review also noted Morriss vivid recollections of growing up in the rural South, serving during periods of military conflict, and developing a worldview shaped by both religious tradition and scientific thought.

Random Thoughts of an Old Man in a Rocking Chair offers readers a candid portrait of a life lived through upheaval, reinvention, and reflection. The book is available through major online booksellers for readers interested in memoir, military history, spirituality, and personal philosophy. It presents history at a personal scale, showing how major events can shape one individuals convictions, questions, relationships, and understanding of purpose.