During the campaign, Obama told a story about his "uncle," Charles Payne's, WW II experiences to burnish his all-American upbringing.  But Obama made a gaffe when he said his great uncle liberated Auschwitz.  Well, Russian troops liberated Auschwitz, so the story changed that Payne was part of the force that liberated Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, in April 1945.

Well, is this story a gaffe, or a lie, on top of a lie, on top of a lie.

Records show that a Payne, C. T. served as a private with Company K, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division, during World War II.  According to records, the C.T. Payne listed on the roster of the 89th Infantry Division, may NOT be a relative of Obama.

Genealogy records show that Obama's grandmother Madelyn only had one brother, Charles W., and a sister Arlene.  Charles W. was born to Rolla Charles Payne and Leona McCurry (nee) in 1924.

Not only that, It seems that "Uncle Charles" was in the Navy.  Payne, Charles W., enlisted in the US Navy on November 10, 1942, at Board #4, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas.  His US Navy serial number was 6293977.

There was a Charles T. Payne in the family.  He was Obama's great great grandfather.  He joined the military just after Pearl Harbor amid the fear and confusion on a "60 and over" enlistment that was meant to be defense at home.  However, he also joined the US Navy.  Payne, Charles T., enlisted on December 13, 1942, also at Board #4, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas.  His US Navy serial number was 3427439.

Charles T. Payne was born in 1861.  He would have been 81 years old, and totally unacceptable for active duty in the infantry -- he is not the C.T. Payne of the 89th.

Is anything about this guy on the level?

Note:  The information at Ancestry.com has been challenged and is under review.  Until validated, this item should be treated as questionable.

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