Clifford R. Drake was inducted into the U.S. Army in April, 1943. He received basic training at Camp Croft, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Clifford was immediately shipped overseas and arrived through Casablanca, Africa then on to Oran, Algeria and Tunis, Tunisia. He shipped out to join the 1st Armored Division as a forward observer of the field artillery in Italy. Was in Naples, Italy, then Anzio and through Rome, on June 5, 1944.

Clifford was captured and was a Prisoner of War until April, 1945. He was imprisoned at Stalag 7a, 2b, and from there was sent to a work farm. From the work farm he was taken on a forced march, from which, he escaped by his own initiative. It took him 14 days to reach the American lines.

Clifford was awarded the European Campaign Ribbon with three bronze stars. After 52 years in 1997, he was awarded a Purple Heart. He was discharged in November, 1945, from Camp Butler, North Carolina.