The trauma of hostile fire, roadside bombs, mines, and the ab- duction and death of comrades is told in vivid, unforgettable detail.

"The fundamental and essential purpose of the United Nations is to keep the peace. Everything which does not further that goal, either directly or indirectly, is at best superfluous."
– Henry Cabot Lodge, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
From the 1950s to the present day, Canadian peacekeepers have been employed as a stabilizing force and an instrument of peace in every corner of the globe.
In this first-hand account, Terry "Stoney" Burke paints a graphic picture of a peacekeeper’s life in one of the most tumultuous and dangerous regions of the world. From the war-torn island of Cyprus, through his later missions in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, we follow him as he weaves an intriguing narrative of life as a Canadian peacekeeper.

Terry Burke immigrated to Toronto’s Cabbagetown in the late 1950s. His two previous books, Cold War Soldier and Under the Blue Beret, deal with his time in the military. He is retired and living in London, Ontario.

Terry Burke's profile page

"In this autobiographical accounting of his active participation to uphold [the United Nations’ mandate to ‘keep the peace’], author Terry “Stoney” Burke provides an insightful, and –despite the “peacekeeping” nature of that work – all too often harrowing on-the-ground view of what exactly it entails."

Ontario Historical Society Bulletin

"Burke's descriptions of the interactions between the peacekeepers are fascinating and give a personal feel to the massive operation that is the U.N. This is a real, humbling, hilarious and poignant memoir by a veteran, giving readers a minute idea of what soldiers sacrifice to promote peace and stability."

Publisher's Weekly