Claude McClure was born in 1940 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 24, 1959, and completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in June 1959. Pvt McClure next completed advanced individual training as an infantryman at Fort Jackson in August 1959, followed by service as an 81mm mortar gunner and rifleman with Company A, 2nd Airborne Battle Group of the 503rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from August 1959 to June 1960, and then deployed with his unit to Okinawa from June 1960 to April 1962. Sgt McClure attended Combat Engineer Special Forces training with the Special Forces Training Group at Fort Bragg from April to October 1962, and then served as a Special Forces Combat Engineer with Company B of the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg from October 1962 to July 1963, and then deployed with his unit to South Vietnam from July 1963 until he was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War on November 24, 1963. After spending 736 days in captivity, SSG McClure was released by his captors on November 28, 1965. He served with Headquarters Company at Fort Buckner, Okinawa, from December 1965 until his honorable discharge on April 15, 1966, and then reenlisted in the Army on July 26, 1966. His next assignment was as as Squad Leader with Company D of the 5th Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, from July 1966 to April 1967, followed by service as a Squad Leader with the 562nd Engineer Company at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, from April to August 1967. SSG McClure's final assignment was as a Squad Leader with Company A, 5th Battalion of the 23rd Infantry Brigade at Fort Richardson, Alaska, from August 1967 until his honorable discharge on July 17, 1969.

The Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.