Yanks in Blue Berets
American UN Peacekeepers in the Middle East
L. Scott Lingamfelter, University Press of Kentucky, 2023, 320 pages
Book Review published on: December 22, 2025
Conflict in the Middle East has been a persistent issue since the declaration of Israel on 14 May 1948. Over the years, the neighboring countries within the Levant have attempted to eradicate Israel multiple times. The United Nations (UN), with significant involvement from the United States, has endeavored to manufacture peace in the region. L. Scott Lingamfelter’s book Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Middle East provides details in a narrative about a young Army captain’s experience as a UN military observer in 1981, attempting to uphold the UN mandate to maintain peace.
Lingamfelter recounts his journey as a captain navigating the complex and volatile political landscape of the Levant. As an unarmed observer, he encountered both the Palestine Liberation Army and the Israel Defense Forces, both struggling for a peace that would not hold. The book offers a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by UN observers, who, despite their dedication, often lacked the necessary skills and resources to effectively plan and execute peacekeeping operations.
Arriving in Jerusalem in 1981 with his wife, Capt. Lingamfelter joined the UN Truce Supervision Organization, alongside thirty-five other American officers and numerous soldiers from contributing nations. Their mission was to monitor the peace among Israel and its neighbors: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. However, each member of the UN military observer, though dedicated to the mission, often lacked the necessary skills to plan and execute the required operations effectively. During the build-up phase of UN operations, multiple issues plagued the organization, including difficulties in selecting locations, providing adequate training, and ensuring security and resources. These challenges can largely be attributed to a lack of skilled UN planners.
Moreover, the UN forces were often unwelcome in the environment, and the observers frequently faced contempt from the Israel Defense Forces. Tasked with the impossible job of monitoring a fragile peace agreement, these unarmed observers received little recognition or support from the very people they were there to protect. Lingamfelter vividly describes these struggles, highlighting the immense challenges and frustrations faced by the UN peacekeepers.
While Lingamfelter acknowledges the significant professional growth he experienced through his work with the UN Truce Supervision Organization, he expresses reservations about the effectiveness and worth of the peacekeeping mission. The book offers a historical overview of the region leading up to Lingamfelter's arrival in Tel Aviv on 20 February 1981, and his departure in February 1982, coinciding with the early stages of the Lebanon War, which began 6 June 1982, with the Israel Defense Forces invasion of southern Lebanon to expel the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Yanks in Blue Berets provides a firsthand account of the buildup to the Lebanon War, illustrating how UN observers foresaw the impending conflict but were powerless to prevent it. Lingamfelter's detailed narrative provides in epic detail the struggles and limitations of the UN's peacekeeping efforts and offers a critical analysis of the mission, serving as a cautionary tale for future peacekeeping missions.
This book is a well-written examination of the history and origins of the conflict between Israel and the Middle East. It provides valuable insights for those interested in understanding the complexities of achieving peace in the region. Historians and political analysts will find it a rich resource, as it sheds light on the roles and experiences of various key players, including the UN, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Liberation Organization, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan. Additionally, military advisors and future members of the Blue Berets will benefit from Lingamfelter's perspective on the observer’s role and the inherent challenges of peacekeeping.
As a former Blue Beret who served in the Central African Republic in 2021, I found this book particularly enlightening. It would have greatly aided my understanding of the issues faced by UN peacekeeping forces.
Book Review written by: Lt. Col. Michael C. Thorpe, EdD, U.S. Army, Retired, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas