Charles Thomas Payne (February 16, 1925 – August 1, 2014) was an American librarian and soldier. A member of the Obama family, he was the brother of Madelyn Payne Dunham and granduncle of former U.S. president Barack Obama.

During World War II, Payne served as a member of the U.S. Army's 89th Infantry DivisionThe 89th Infantry Division, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum that liberated Ohrdruf, a sub-camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp.Obama kin recalls liberating Nazi camp Granduncle was appalled by what he witnessed July 23, 2008 Associated PressCarla K. Johnson Obama's granduncle recalls liberating Nazi camp July 22, 2008 Associated PressProfile: Obama's granduncle Charles Payne June 5, 2009 BBC News

His military service was often mentioned in Obama's speeches, including the one given in 2009 commemorating the anniversary of D-Day.Steve Chaggaris Morning Bulletin: Friday, June 5, 2009 June 5, 2009 CBS News During the 2008 presidential election, there was brief media attention when Obama mistakenly identified the camp he helped liberate as Auschwitz instead of Ohrdruf. In 2009, Payne spoke about this experience:

After the war, Payne earned a degree in chemical engineering from Kansas State University and worked as an engineer before pursuing studies at the University of Chicago's Graduate Library School. At the university, he shared a dormitory and developed a longtime friendship with Lien Chan, the future vice president and premier of Taiwan.

Payne joined the staff of the University of Chicago Library in 1964, serving as the assistant director from 1975 to 1992. Meanwhile, Obama taught constitutional law at the university's law school from 1992 to 2004. Payne attended the 2008 Democratic National Convention, where his grandnephew was nominated for president.

Payne died on August 1, 2014, aged 89.Barack Obama’s granduncle dies at 89; Charles Payne was WWII vet, U. of C. library official , Chicago Sun-Times, Maureen O'Donnell and Jon Seidel, August 11, 2014

See also

References

External links Spiegel Interview With Obama's Granduncle: 'I Was Horrified by Lengths Men Will Go to Mistreat Other Men' - DER SPIEGEL - International interview with Der Spiegel