About 4000 Peace Corps volunteers served in Liberia from 1961 until the civil war started in 1990. 

In 1971, when Group 23 arrived in Liberia, the president of Liberia was William V. S. Tubman, who had been president since 1944.  President Tubman died in office during our first year and was replaced by his vice-president, William R. Tolbert.