Born in Mason, Tennessee March 2, 1923, Bailey Lee Clifton enlisted into the U.S. Navy in Nashville, Tennessee March 2, 1944, his 21st birthday. He trained in Syracuse, New York from March 1944 through April of 1944 at Camp Samson.

Clifton was involved in patrolling the western end of the Panama Canal channel, earned the rank of seaman 1st class and was awarded the American Theater Citation. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in December of 1945.