Waco, TX...what comes to mind?

That's right...none other than the February 28 - April 19th, 1993 ATF raid on the Branch Davidian compound and its leader David Koresh.

If you haven't noticed by now, we like to visit unusual or not-so-publicized historical locations that won't find themselves on any visitor's center or tripadvisor manifest of things to see, and this particular stop is no exception.  We found ourselves driving northbound on I-35 between Austin and Dallas on a Saturday evening, passing directly through Waco, TX.  A bit of internet research will reveal the site of the siege, about 9 miles outside of Waco proper.  We determined it would be an easy detour adding only about 16 miles to our trip.

Following the GPS to the coordinates we located, within 15 minutes we had arrived at the still-functioning, though much smaller and more peaceful Branch Davidian property.  The entrance is marked by a recently-constructed white stone fence, with an electronic gate that visitors will typically (and surprisingly) find open.  They do not turn away visitors, knowing this is a historical site.

The Branch Davidians are a sect that separated in 1955 from the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, themselves a splinter of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.  The various sects struggled for power and control of property all over the US, but TX and the "prairie country" (several counties in central TX) are a particular hotbed for these fundamentalist groups.  The Branch Davidian sect, who as a result of a power struggle with the sect in the 1980's, came to be led by David Koresh and lived at Mount Carmel Center ranch in the community of Elk, Texas.

For those too young or perhaps under a rock for the past quarter-century, David Koresh was born Vernon Wayne Howell (August 17, 1959 – April 19, 1993) and was the American leader of the Branch Davidians religious sect, believing himself to be its final prophet.  A 1993 raid by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the subsequent siege by the FBI ended with the burning of the Branch Davidian ranch outside of Waco, Texas, in McLennan County. Upon the ATF's failure to successfully raid the compound on the first day, a siege was initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the standoff lasting 51 days.  Eventually, the FBI launched an assault and initiated a tear gas attack in an attempt to force the Branch Davidians out. During the attack, a conflagration engulfed the Mount Carmel Center; Koresh, 54 other adults, and 28 children were found dead after the fire.

The group was suspected of weapons violations and child abuse/molestation, and a search and arrest warrant was obtained by the U.S. federal agency Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). The incident began when the ATF attempted to raid the ranch to serve this warrant on Koresh.

After entering the above mentioned gates, a visitor first encounters the sign below.

Then, a bit further inside, under a large ancient oak tree and beside a small parking area, visitors will see a memorial to those who died during the April 19, 1993 final siege.

Interestingly, David Koresh is listed on the memorial above using his "new" name (which too has biblical significance to himself and his followers), but is listed elsewhere on the monument as one of the "Seven Shepherds of the Advent Movements" using his birth name of Vernon Wayne Howell.  The stones below the "Seven Shepherds" are the names, ages, and nationalities of the other members who perished that day; there are two walls constructed like that below to include all of the memorial stones.

The memorial below is found outside the newly constructed chapel, built over the site of the previous compound.

Surprisingly, there is a separate memorial to the four ATF agents who lost their lives during the initial raid as well.

Another memorial to the victims of the Oklahoma City (OKC) bombing is onsite.  You may wonder about the significance of this: The US Government's (mis?-)handling of the Waco incident is largely credited as the event that incensed Timothy McVeigh and a small group of conspirators to blow up the OKC Federal Building exactly two years (to the day) later, in 1995.

A new chapel was rebuilt on the exact spot of the previous compound where the 76 perished.


Below is the swimming pool which remains from the original compound; this structure was immediately behind and to the left of the original compound building.

Below are the remnants of a buried school bus that was attached to the underground bunker of the compound; the underground bunker was under construction at the time of the raid and the bus was thought to be a cache of food and arms.

Now-flooded, these are the remnants of the underground shelter complex mentioned above.  This bunker had a partially-completed wooden roof until the late 2000's when it collapsed.

Underground tunnels from the bunker to the original main compound.

Site of one of the original 3-story towers on the sides of the compound.

Much dispute remains as to the actual events of the siege. A particular controversy ensued over the origin of the fire; a government investigation concluded in 2000 that sect members themselves had started the fire.

This flyer is provided by the current members at the new chapel to visitors who may view the area.  It is interesting to read their interpretation of the events, blaming both former Branch Davidian members (including Koresh) and the US Government for their mishandling of the situation.  Transcripts of the general text is provided below each image for four pages of the flyer.

"WACO"

 "Waco" - one of those things that (it seems) EVERY one remembers seeing on television.

It sticks in our minds - even if we were only a child when it happened back in 1993.  (Has it been that long ago?)  So what was it really all about?  What happened?  And (more importantly):  WHY did it have to happen?

What happened on those fateful days? 

FEBRUARY 28, 1993 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) stormed the Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventist property with a heavily armed force of 80 men and women (in addition to snipers and three attack helicopters), ostensibly merely to serve a warrant on David Koresh.  Instead, a gun battle ensued, leaving four ATF agents dead, 16 ATF agents wounded, and six Branch Davidians dead, and four Branch Davidians wounded (including David Koresh).  Many questions:  If they only wanted to serve a warrant on David Koresh, why didn't they do it simply, like when he went out for his routine jog, or went shopping in town?

APRIL 19, 1993 

After a 51-day torture and siege (during which 35 New Mt. Carmel residents exited, and during which the FBI and the Hostage Rescue Team took over from the ATF, and in the midst of negotiations for the remaining Mt. Carmel residents to exit peacefully), the FBI attacked, demolishing the buildings, and inserting deadly CS gas.

A fire ensued, and the entire complex and most of its residents were burned up, including 76 Branch Davidians (19 men, 34 women, and 23 children - of which two were babies who were still in their mothers' wombs, spontaneously birthed into the fire).  According to FLIR (forward-looking infrared resonance) photography, apparently some of the dead were machine-gunned down as they tried to exit the rear of the burning complex.  The conflagration seared that fateful day into the minds of perhaps billions the world over. 

WHY did Waco happen?

Why did "Waco" happen?  Why did these people have to die, and this place burn to the ground?

Many want to blame the government for killing these people, and others want to blame Koresh for hiding behind his congregation and the children, but the truth of the matter is that they were both at fault.  Very simply, both sides played God.  Not only did David Koresh claim to sit in the seat of God, but in the way the government acted they too acted as if they were God as well.

Yes Koresh claimed to be the Lamb of God of Revelation 5:6, the only one who could open the book; the lamb, which has 7 horns, and 7 eyes, and the 7 spirits (complete Spirit) of God sent forth into the earth. 

In Ezekiel 28, the Lord Says to this man: "Because thou hast said 'I have the mind of God, I sit in the seat of God and I am God," I the Lord will send strangers, the terrible of the nations to bring you down with the sword... we will see how much of a God you are in the hands of those that slay you; you are not a God you are just a man."  Ezekiel 28

The Lord brought terrible judgement on Koresh and his followers through the ATF, FBI, and the Delta Force, the most elite commandos in the world today.  Kores and his followers did not stand a chance in the hands of these trained and licensed assassins.  In Ezekiel 28, the Lord says He will kindle a fire in the midst and destroy this apostate headquarters before the nations and all will see the folly of this man who wanted to sit in the seat of God.  All must agree, Koresh received the judgement of God (I Peter 4:17)

In Ezekiel 9, it says that those who are not sighing and crying for the abominations done by the leadership int eh church, will be utterly slaughtered, men, women, maids, and little children by those that have the slaughtering weapons in their hands (the Delta Force).  The Waco War was a fulfillment of this prophecy to the BDSDA Church.

From this tragedy, we understand two things:

1) We have a government that has gone awry - a breakdown of liberty and democracy in America with evidence of crimes and cover-up.
2) That God is here in judgement - to judge the denominations and nations.

A map of the original compound, showing the remaining swimming pool and underground bunker complex.

We found the greater Waco area to be very pleasant, and largely undeserving of the reputation eternally associated with it after the Branch Davidian incident.  There is a large lake, Lake Waco, on the west side of town, and very nice real estate and industry in the metro area.  The land looks very much like the flat green fertile fields of eastern Lancaster and Chester Counties in PA, one of surprisingly many similarities I've found between PA and certain areas of central TX.  It is not difficult to understand why George W. Bush selected a 1,500 acre plot 25 miles west of town for his Prairie Chapel ranch...