NewDayNews Open House

Some horror stories from TSC

Posted By: David D
Date: Saturday, 9 September 2006, at 7:50 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Story of a TSC escapee (Colonel)

I was also at TSC from April 71 to Oct or Nov 71. TSC was near a town called Thurber, TX. He had some of his specifics off, but most of that is really true.

I remember some really weird stuff from that place. I could confirm all of what he said and add some stuff to it. But that would get into a really long story. But I'll briefly give some them.

They told me if I tried to escape, I could be bit by a snake or shot by a crazy cowboy or even drown as these things had happened to people who tried to escape.

There was always a big brother with me everywhere I went, even to the bathroom. I hated to have someone there watching while I was doing a BM, so I often snuck off while everyone was in a meeting and there was no one in the outhouse. Sometimes it was hard to hold it till then.

My Dad came to visit me once and there was always this guy that had to stay with me. He made sure that my Dad didn't say anything that would cause me to want to desert. I remember that he had to make me get into the car and lock the doors so that he could talk to me in private. But by that time I was so brain-washed that it was no use.

No one was supposed to have been able to join if they had a debt, and I had a college loan debt. When I signed over everything I told them about it and I said that the money in my bank account could be used to pay off the debt. But they never did pay it off, they just used the money and years later I found out the the debt was still unpaid. Since the system was supposed to fall, we were not supposed to worry about any debts and college would be unnecessary anyway.

I forsook everything as they told me to, except for a small suitecase that we were supposed to have been able to keep -- just basic stuff. But stuff just kept disappearing and when I sent stuff to the laundry, I never got it back. Once in a while I would see one of my shirts walking around on someone else's back. When I confronted a guy one time, he said "Oh, it's just one that looks like yours.

I had my sister and mother and my dad all would send me checks from time to time to use for my needs. The leadership would have us write home and ask us for it -- especially in money. When the mail came in and I would get a letter, some guy would stand over me waiting for me to open it. If there was a check inside he would just grab it and make me sign it and off he would go. I never saw a single cent of the money that was sent to me. I asked once if I could have some of the money to buy some of my needs, and they told me that they would get everything I needed and not to worry about the money.

Well, it got to the point that I had absolutely nothing to put on my body. When I asked about it, I was told to go to the "Forsake All Store". So I went there to get some clothes and there were only rags there -- jeans with holes, mismatching socks (with holes)... etc., and everything faded. Well I always wanted to be able to dress like a hippy, and now was my chance to be able to have the excuse.

Then there was the "holy kiss", I hated it when some guy would come and kiss me on the neck! I even saw once in a while guys kissing on the lips -- but that was rare.

And the outhouses -- they were horrible. A big long board with holes and everyone would sit down next to one another and take a dump. I hated that! As they sat they would sit reviewing their "set card" or memorizing verses. There were lots of flies and it stank to high heaven. I think from time to time someone would go in and dump some lye in the holes to cover the poop.

We were only allowed to use 2 sheets of toilet paper to wipe with. I really don't know how you could do that. I usually waited till no one was watching and use as much as I needed. But there was one place where they put up a paper on the wall that said something like:

"Two sheets only -- and this means YOU! The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the good and evil."

Well I could go on and on about that place...