The Road Back to Touba Kolong: From Peace Corps to War and Back Again traces one man's extraordinary path from volunteering in a small Gambian village to military service and the battlefield, and ultimately back to the community that shaped him. The book captures a deeply personal story of service, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds formed across cultures and continents.
San Diego - September 18, 2026 - Author Willie Clayborn Jr. has released The Road Back to Touba Kolong: From Peace Corps to War and Back Again, a memoir that follows his remarkable journey from Peace Corps volunteer in the West African nation of The Gambia to military service, combat, and an emotional return to the village where his life of service first took root.
The book opens with Clayborn's arrival in Touba Kolong, a small rural community in The Gambia, where he served as a Peace Corps volunteer. Immersed in the rhythms of daily village life, he formed relationships with families, children, and elders that would stay with him for decades. The memoir captures the joys and challenges of cross-cultural exchange, painting a vivid portrait of a place and people that left an indelible mark on the young volunteer.
After completing his Peace Corps service, Clayborn's path led him to the military, where he would face the realities of war. The book does not shy away from the stark contrast between his time building connections in a peaceful village and the demands of armed conflict. Readers are brought into the complexity of a life shaped by two very different forms of service — one rooted in community development and cultural understanding, the other in duty and sacrifice on the battlefield.
What makes this memoir stand apart is its final act. Years after leaving The Gambia and enduring the weight of military experience, Clayborn returned to Touba Kolong. His homecoming was not merely nostalgic. It became a mission to give something tangible back to the community that had given him so much. During his return, Clayborn helped establish a library for the children and families of the village, creating a resource that would serve generations to come.
The decision to build a library reflects a theme that runs throughout the book: the belief that service is not a chapter that closes but a lifelong commitment. For Clayborn, the library represents the intersection of everything he experienced — the value of education he witnessed in The Gambia, the discipline and purpose he gained through military service, and the desire to leave something lasting behind.
The Road Back to Touba Kolong is written for a broad audience. Readers who are drawn to true stories of personal journeys, cross-cultural encounters, and the power of giving back will find the narrative compelling. The book also speaks directly to Peace Corps volunteers and alumni who understand the unique bond formed between a volunteer and their host community. Veterans who have navigated the transition from military life to civilian purpose will recognize Clayborn's struggle and determination. Educators, students of African history and culture, and anyone interested in travel narratives will discover a layered and authentic account.
At its core, the memoir asks a simple but profound question: What do we owe to the places and people who shape us? Clayborn's answer is delivered not through grand philosophy but through action — returning, reconnecting, and building something that endures.
The book is available now through the author's official page and is expected to resonate with reading communities, book clubs, and organizations focused on international service and veteran storytelling.
About Us
The Road Back to Touba Kolong: From Peace Corps to War and Back Again is a memoir by Willie Clayborn Jr. The book chronicles his journey from Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia to military service and his eventual return to the village of Touba Kolong, where he helped establish a library for the local community.
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