Posted on 05/07/2009 11:05:02 PM PDT by STARWISE
For much of his 84 years, Charles Payne has lived in Chicago in relative obscurity and watched his sister's grandson rise to the presidency.
But now it appears possible that a painful part of Payne's own story will be brought to the forefront, based on German news reports that President Barack Obama is considering a visit to the concentration camp that his great uncle helped liberate in April 1945.
Payne, who spent much of his career working in library science at the University of Chicago, was a private first class in the 89th Infantry Division during World War II when he participated in the liberation of Ohrdruf, a forced-labor camp that was a satellite of the Buchenwald concentration camp.
"I remember seeing a lot of really emaciated people in rags at the point of starvation. People were clutching tin cups for food," he said Thursday in a Tribune interview. "I saw sheds where dead bodies had been stacked up."
*snip*
"She was a great storyteller," he said of his sister. "You couldn't totally rely on the details."
Dunham, described as something of a second mother to Obama, died in Honolulu just days before he was elected president.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
"She was quite lucid and even had a sense of humor," he said, noting that he believes she knew before she died that her grandson would win the presidency.
"I'm sure she did," Payne said. "She wouldn't talk about it because she didn't want to jinx anything."
President Obama's great-uncle
Charles Payne, great uncle of President Barack Obama, poses at his home in Chicago. In 1945, Payne was one of the U.S soldiers who helped liberate the German concentration camp Buchenwald, where Obama is scheduled to visit.
~~PING!
Typical white person.
Is the guy Obama claimed moved into an attic and did not come down for 20 years?
And Obama on the campaign trail said it was Auschwitz.
Loose ends.
liberation of Ohrdruf, a forced-labor camp that was a satellite of the Buchenwald concentration camp
It’s mentioned in the article.
20 years ... don’t think so, tho.
Obama also spoke about his uncle, who was part of the American brigade that helped to liberate Auschwitz. He said the family legend is that, upon returning from war, his uncle spent six months in an attic. Now obviously, something had really affected him deeply, but at that time there just werent the kinds of facilities to help somebody work through that kind of pain, Obama said. Thats why this idea of making sure that every single veteran, when they are discharged, are screened for post-traumatic stress disorder and given the mental health services that they need thats why its so important. - LINK
When DOES he tell the truth ?
His next book: The Audacity of Audacity
Obama will use this to declare that anyone who opposes him is, by definition, insane. Soviet union redux..
Looks like Obama can even force his great-uncle to bail him out of his gaffes.
I wonder what it took.
Maybe Payne’s been watching “Band of Brothers” and wants to soak up a bit of the glory.
Well, mercy me, isn't that a coincidence?
Photo op: family ... reliving sad war memories .. apple pie ... the flag .... it’ll make us barf, I’m sure.
LOL!
Charles Payne, great-uncle of President Barack Obama, poses in front of a photo of himself and his wife, Melanie, and Obama, at his home in Chicago. In 1945 Payne was one of the U.S soldiers who helped liberate prisoners from thea German concentration camp Buchenwald.
A family photo shows Charles Payne, left, great-uncle of President Barack Obama, with the president-elect on election night in November 2008. At right are Payne's son, Richard Payne, and Payne's wife, Melanie Payne
Family photos on display at the home of Charles Payne, great uncle of President Barack Obama, show Payne with the president and his extended family at Payne's home in Chicago.
Children and other prisoners liberated by the 3rd U.S. Army march from Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar, Germany, in April 1945. The freed prisoners are walking to an American hospital to receive treatment. President Obama's great-uncle Charles Payne was one of the U.S. soldiers to help liberate the camp's prisoners in 1945. Obama is planning to visit the site of the camp.
I wonder if the great-uncle knows where Obama was really born?
Charles Payne does not deserve to be ridiculed here or elsewhere. I thank him for his service.
interesting family photographs.
interesting family photographs.
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