A Journey to Waco: Autobiography of a Branch Davidian

by Clive Doyle, Catherine Wessinger, Matthew D. Wittmer

Nearly twenty years after they happened, the ATF and FBI assaults on the Branch Davidian residence near Waco, Texas remain the most deadly law enforcement action on American soil. The raid by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents on February 28, 1993, which resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians, precipitated a 51-day siege conducted by the FBI. The FBI tank and gas assault on the residence at Mount Carmel Center on April 19 culminated in a fire that killed 53 adults and 23 children, with only nine survivors. In A Journey to Waco, survivor Clive Doyle not only takes readers inside the tragic fire and its aftermath, but he also tells the larger story of how and why he joined the Branch Davidians, how the Branch Davidian community developed, and the status of survivors.

While the media and official reports painted one picture of the Branch Davidians and the two assaults, A Journey to Waco shares a much more personal account of the ATF raid, the siege, and the final assault that details events unreported by the media. A Journey to Waco presents what the Branch Davidians believed and introduces readers to the community’s members, including David Koresh. A Journey to Waco is a personal account of one man’s journey with the Branch Davidians, through the tragic fire, and beyond.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Cults, Memoir, History, Biography, Cult Classics

298 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have said before, (auto)biographies of those involved in offshoot religious movements are perhaps some of the most baffling, yet interesting pieces that I have come across during this two-month project. To see those within the movement and how they think, as well as how the cohesiveness of the group is kept by a single leader, proves educational as well as somewhat entertaining. I have read a number of these during these forty-two days, though this is the first that speaks from within and does not dispute the group's ways. Clive Doyle lived through the 1993 raid by agents of the US Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and FBI on the Mount Carmel community (the Branch Davidians), best known for its location in Waco, Texas. Doyle offers the reader a brief, yet thorough, explanation of his life up to publication and the core values of the Branch Davidians, before exploring those fifty-one fateful days in 1993 that led to many casualties and numerous questions from both sides. Told honestly and succinctly, Doyle provides the curious reader with the other side of the argument, not widely publicised at that time or since. A must-read for those who want to better understand the inner workings of the group and its leader, David Koresh.

Doyle opens the book laying the groundwork that he will be speaking as a current member of the Branch Davidians, still holding firm to their beliefs and that 1993 was an indelible mark for which no clear answers have yet been provided. Thereafter, he begins the chronological story of how he arrived at that fateful day, April 19, 1993. Doyle tells of his youth growing up in Australia, where his family worshiped as Seventh Day Adventists. Seemingly evangelical in nature (Doyle expects that the reader understands this denomination), Doyle found himself spreading the Word to the far-reaches of the country when he was not attending the Adventist school. After a schism with the Adventist Church in 1955, Victor Houteff created the Davidians, a group that soon arrived in the area and convinced Doyle to join them. Brining his mother along after studying Houteff's The Shepherd's Rod, Doyle tried to convince other Adventists to join. Understandably, the Adventist community saw Davidians as a scourge and kept them from services, though Doyle recounts of how he was able to work around those restrictions. As Doyle grew and tried to spread the Word, he was enticed to head to California, where the core of the Davidians found themselves. Working and helping to spread the Davidian message, Doyle found himself involved in a splinter group, headed by Ben Roden; the Branch Davidians. Roden's death led his wife, Lois, to become the new prophet and lead the group through the early part of the 1980s. Land long-ago purchased by the Rodens on the outskirts of Waco, Texas became one of the group's bases, named Mount Carmel. Doyle speaks of the struggles within the Church, where he met his wife, Debbie, and they had two children. There were those who were not as committed to the cause and who left of their own free will. (It is worth noting that this is the sole group about which I have read where voluntary departure was not questioned, discouraged, or impeded!) Doyle recounts the horrendous struggle he had to secure his daughters, Karen and Shari, from his wife who refused to stay with the Church. With Doyle a strong member and dedicated to service, he moved around wherever he was needed to further the cause and make money for the group. Vernon Howell arrived on the scene by 1981 and proved a pillar of the Branch Davidians, soon changing his name to David Koresh. The ability to shepherd others was not lost on Doyle, who saw much promise in this man, someone who would eventually take over leadership of the Branch Davidians after a confrontation with the Rodens' son, George. Mount Carmel became the central home of Branch Davidians, who engaged in long and thorough explorations of the Bible under Koresh's guidance, until February 28, 1993.

Doyle takes an entire chapter to explore some of the theological beliefs of the Branch Davidians, perhaps to dispel some of the falsehoods espoused by media and those who had little interest in understanding. As best as I can ascertain, the crux relates to the Book of Revelations and the opening of the Seven Seals. While Koresh would have his followers understand the entire Bible, it was essential that everyone comprehend that Koresh saw himself as the Second Coming of the Lord, in human form, set to open the Seven Seals and prepare for the End Times. He openly admitted that there would be hardship and that evils surrounded them, pitting the United States and the United Nations as two of the great evils that had to be conquered. Interpretation of chapter and verse surely fuels any religious group, though Koresh seemed to be able to pull each comma from Revelations and apply it to current times. Doyle's strong belief in Koresh and the message presented makes it harder for the reader to ascertain the full effect of what was being said, as there were no published tracts or recorded sermons quoted here. By the time ATF agents arrived on February 28th, 1993, the battle lines were drawn and Koresh had the 'living version' of his Gospel taking place, as the government agents surrounded Mount Carmel and prepared to act, apparently related to a number of gun possession queries, but were rebuffed by the Branch Davidians.

Doyle uses another single chapter to inform the reader about the fifty-one day standoff between ATF/FBI agents and the members of the Branch Davidians, though the narrative quickly turns generic and without a strong description of the day to day events. Doyle lists many of those who found themselves inside Mount Carmel, listing their nationalities and how they found themselves in Texas, as well as some loose memories of events during the stand-off. Koresh, who had been shot on Day 1, remained somewhat isolated and quiet, though he did call for Bible studies on a regular basis. By the time April 19th arrived, gas flew into the building and fires started, leading to the death of many members of the Branch Davidians. Only nine survived, Doyle being one, though is daughter (Shari) perished in the flames. Arrested and detained, Doyle was forced to sit through a trial for the deaths of government agents and guns found on the premises, before being exonerated. To this day, Doyle remains a follower of the Branch Davidians and remembers those who lived alongside him, as well as the strong religious beliefs they shared.

When I sought out a biography of David Koresh or a better understanding of the Branch Davidian Compound and events in Waco from 1993, I was not sure what I would find. After discovering Doyle's piece, I expected it to be from the perspective of all other pieces I had read about religious splinter groups and their followers; trying to explain how they got pulled in and were eventually able to get out. Instead, Doyle presents a cogent piece on the Branch Davidians and why he felt they were in the right, while vilifying the decisions to raid Mount Carmel and the havoc caused during the stand-off before the fires that are etched onto my mind. Doyle's opening chapters serve as a wonderful autobiography, explaining his beliefs and rationale. By the time things get to the Koresh theology and the fifty-one days, a generic sentiment seeps into the story and the reader loses the strength of the argument. Surely trauma and age-related mental acuity could have something to do with it, but there lacked a sense of struggle and thorough exploration of those events that led to the fires and the gassing. Perhaps because the author relies on his own accounts and not those pulled from other friends or documents, there lacks a degree of dramatic flair, though I got the gist. Koresh's control and godliness was diluted in the narrative and I am left thinking of him only as a man with a belief in the End Times (contrasted greatly with the power of Jesus or even Jim Jones to sway their followers). I will openly admit that the book read in a very academic manner, full of footnotes and citations (which took away from the flow of a personal story) and the writing proved somewhat dense at times, though the message was not lost amongst all the information on offer. Doyle promised a personal perspective and for that we can be pleased. However, I would not call this the earth shattering piece that offers the detailed account of the other side, able to sway vast segments of the population.

Kudos, Mr. Doyle for all you have done in this piece. I can see a little better through the fog of Branch Davidian struggles and the horrors that befell you in 1993. I trust you have found solace in the loss of your daughter and know that those who remain are there to support you. Thank you for this book!

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com

[britt_brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s a lot of “maybe,” “I think,” “I don’t remember,” and “probably” in this account. After reading other reviews, I learned that it’s basically an oral history from Doyle, so that at least explains the unsurety and the novice writing. It’s very disjointed, repetitive, and one-sided.

I did learn a few things, but there’s got to be a better book about the Waco siege out there.

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during my Waco obsession (which has cooled, but is still quite alive). Having finished the autobiography by David Thibodeau, I was on the hunt for more.
This one is by Clive Doyle, another survivor, of both the "cult" and the conflagration. Having not gotten very much info and details surrounding any actual Davidian theology from Thibodeau's book, I was hoping this one would provide a little more on that subject. And it did, but, as with Thibs' book, it glosses over what we (ie-a "normal" society) would deem questionable. Which is to be expected. Just as the tolerance and eventual acceptance by his followers of Koresh's growing deviant proclivities and "teachings" is to be expected. Doyle was and still is a believer in Davidian theology and in Koresh himself.
The book does give us a brief history of the Davidians, including of Doyle himself. David Koresh was not the founder of Davidian theology!! Doyle does a nice job of introducing us to the other players and characters throughout it's existence. We see (at least through Doyle's point of view) how Koresh came in and eventually started changing and manipulating the beliefs and the followers themselves. And although not explicitly stated, we perceive Doyle's recognition that David Koresh was flawed, faulty, and perhaps complicit (at the least) in the end siege. Never throughout the entire book does Doyle express any sentiments of anger, rage, vengefulness or animosity, which is remarkable, given he lost a daughter in the fire, was badly burned himself, went through trial for conspiracy to murder (he was exonerated, but others were convicted), and endured years of media scrutiny and public stigma.
Definitely a worthwhile read. I do think however, readers need to be able to look past the obligatory "how could they...?" questions and appreciate the book for it's unique perspective.

[Kelsey Hanson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has an important story to tell but it wasn't told in the best way. This is a very poorly written book that didn't give the insight that I was looking for. I know very little about the Branch-Davidians and their ideaology or the differences between the factions which are things that I probably need to know to better understand the situation. It was written in a novice writer way so it was confusing to understand the people involved including David Koresh. I'm pretty disappointed with this one.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked it up with what I thought was an open mind; I'd read plenty of news reports and heard the briefings from Janet Reno and Bill Clinton on the events that led up to and then transpired on 19 April 1993. But reading this strips it all away.

The author, Clive Doyle, is now over 70 years old, and (by reading the text) does not appear to have an axe to grind. A Branch Davidian since the age of 16, he provides a lengthy narration on the history of the Branch, its followers, his own life story, and how he met David Koresh. He provides insight (some rather intriguing, but almost all unknowingly transparent) on Koresh's teachings, particularly of the Book of Revelation. But most importantly, he provides what appears to be an eye witness account to the 51-day siege and eventual destruction of the compound. Reading the court proceedings alone is enough to make the blood boil; I have little doubt in my mind that ATF and, later, FBI agents made crucial mistakes in their handling of the situation, then lied to cover it up. I never would have considered this before reading this very engaging book.

There are obviously two sides to every story, and this bears additional research. The author does not appear to have an axe to grind or a grudge to motivate him, but he does appear to want his version of the events made public. It's a challenging and unnerving read.

[Chelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I always like to put a little disclaimer when I review biographies or autobiographies. My rating of this book is solely a reflection of the writing style and the ease of reading. My rating is not a reflection or judgement on the personal experiences, stories, thoughts, etc of the person writing the novel.

1.5 Stars. Spoiler Free Review

I have been very intrigued by the Waco incident for quite a while. I’ve read a book by Dr. Bruce Perry in which he told his version of what happened after Waco. He was a clinical child psychologist who met with some of the children sent away from the compound. So, I was very excited to read another perspective on the situation, especially from someone on the inside. Every story has at least two sides and I think it’s only fair to listen to them all.

That being said, I was not a fan of this book. It had nothing to do with the religion or the Branch Davidians themselves. In fact, one of the most interesting parts in this book was the detailed chapter about the Branch Davidian’s belief system.

This book really just needed a serious edit. A lot of rambling went on, such as listing name after name of members of the group, but never giving the reader a clear picture of who any of them actually where or how they interacted with Clive Doyle. I love that Mr. Doyle wanted to bring attention to the fact that the people that passed away and the people who followed the religion weren’t "cultist freaks", but humans just like you and I who simply have a different belief system. He really made an effort to humanize them, put a name and face to the people who passed away. It was very moving, but I think it could have been better achieved if he has told more personal stories about each of them or given examples of how they lived their lives on the compound. I did absolutely love the forward. The forward, in part, talks about the harmful use of the term "cult" to describe small sects of religion. It was an interesting point of view and definitely something I had not considered before. It will certainly make me think twice before using that phrase.

Another major issue I had was the timeline of the novel. There was a lot of backtracking in the book which made it hard to follow a times. For example, I would read 2-3 pages about some things that happened in August, and then all of sudden in the next paragraph we were back to the prior year. Again, I think an editor who put effort into streamlining the events described in the book would have really helped.

Overall, this book was ok. It was hard to read simply due to the writing style, but it was thought provoking and provided a unique and necessary perspective to the Waco incident. I don’t recommend this book for its writing, but I do think it’s worth the read just to understand the other side of the story.

[Jerry Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 19, 1993 and for some reason I was home for lunch. I turned CNN on as I ate my sandwich and watched, mesmerized and in horror, the FBI siege and torching of the Branch Davidian home outside of Waco. Clive Doyle, one of the few Mt. Carmel survivors, recounts a fascinating personal story of prophets and prophecy, of Seventh Day Adventists orthodoxy and non-orthodoxy, of sometimes strange theology and cosmology and apocalyptic warnings. Was David Koresh a prophet, a messiah (to Branch Davidians, a messiah is not God)? Why did the ATF precipitate the siege? Were the guns for use or for sale in ubiquitous gun shows? Why did the FBI demonize the Branch Davidians in the media? I saw the siege. I saw the fire begin at a tank's incursion. Sure Doyle is an apologist and sure I am confused about Koresh's cosmology, seeing much of it as an unnecessary distraction from Jesus' message and life. But a couple of Koresh's teachings, via Doyle, would gnash the teeth of today's most outspoken and fundamentalist Christian preachers of hatred and doom. He taught that God wants to save all of us; He fervently does not want any of his children doomed to darkness. And to God nationality and race and culture are all prideful impediments to the oneness, the interconnectedness of His children. We demonize with ''cult" any group whose beliefs don't match ours. We label their church grounds as a "compound" to isolate and discriminate. David Koresh was a prophet to a group of serious, hardworking persons of several races and nationalities who came together in community. And what prophet is ever welcomed and revered by the majority? I'll end with Doyle's words- "I didn't become a Davidian out of a search for heaven or just because I was a disgruntled Seventh-day Adventist. I didn't join the Branch because I was mad at the Davidians. You join because you hear the truth. The Spirit impresses you that this is for you; this is what you need to pay attention to and what you need to comply with and get involved with."

[Jacinta Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read a book written by a former cult member who still completely buys into everything the cult leader told him. Clive Doyle makes it clear from the beginning that he firmly believes David Koresh was God coming to Earth in human form and that he'll show up again someday to lead the Branch Davidians. The actual writing style of this autobiography leaves a lot to be desired. Doyle mentions several members of the group, when they joined, and when they died, but doesn't give enough information about them to indicate that he actually knew any of these people. He also tells about the ATF raid, but admits that he wasn't in certain parts of the building, so he doesn't really know what happened, but he assumes that the ATF agents lied about everything. Even though he already said he would have no way of knowing certain things due to his location during the raid. He provides a basic outline of Branch Davidian theology in the form of Bible verses that seem to be randomly strung together to back up David Koresh's teachings. For the most part, this 200+ page book could have been condensed to about 50 pages, because he repeats huge chunks of details constantly throughout the book.

[Shortsman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The government doesn't care about your safety. They're actively opposed to it.

Doyle makes a good job of showing that the people at Waco were normal people, just like you and me. They just had an unorthodox interpretation of Scripture, and that is not a crime in America, most certainly not one worthy of death by asphyxiation, shooting, or burning.

The only crimes that the survivors were charged with was conspiracy to kill federal agents. Where is the conspiracy, when the good for nothing feds showed up at their doorstep and just started blasting? No honorable person could work for the ATF, especially after what they did at Ruby Ridge and Waco. If any fed is reading this, I hope you're ashamed of yourself. You disgust me.

On another note, it's very obvious that it's transcripts from oral interviews, and I can understand that you don't want to change any sentences without the approval of Doyle himself, but the book suffers for it.

[Geekfork · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this because I wanted an actual Branch Davidian point of view, and Doyle - to his credit - seems fairly dispassionate, but Lord does this story get bogged down in A LOT of personal and historical detail (understandable, of course, but what is basically a long testimony is not exactly the most exciting reading).

[Susan J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about the Waco debacle from another perspective beyond standard media reporting of the time. While the reading was a little difficult since it's mostly a transcribed audio account by Clive Doyle, a survivor, it was fascinating. It was also difficult to read because of the descriptions of the deaths of both adults and children as well as the treatment of the survivors in the aftermath. A must read for anyone studying this sad event.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was about 10-11 when Waco happened. Doyle was the last one out. His harrowing oral history provides a surprising contrast to the common depictions of the Branch Davidians in popular media. Not the most well-written memoir (you can tell it's an edited transcript) but very riveting in its honesty and confusion regarding the raid.

[Nigel Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that many give out about Clives simplistic writing, but anyone that has seen his interviews and testimonys know that this is exactly how he speaks, which actualky made the book better for me.

Aside of the horrific details of the siege itself, Clive explaining what it is exactly that the Branch Davidians believed in was fascinating.

[Karen]

Became interested in this topic while reading "The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog".