He registered for the WW II draft on 30 June 1942, in Perryopolis, Pennsylvania. He was listed as unemployed. He was 5' 9" tall; weighed 135 pounds; had brown hair, blue eyes and a 'light complexion'.

He entered the service on 15 March 1943 from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He enlisted as a Private; he had four years of high school education, was single, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Athletes, sports instructors, and sports officials".

Clair was a member of the 437th TCG Association and was listed on their rosters from 1972 through 1994. In Frank Guild's book 'Journey to the Far Shore', he is listed as a 1945 member of the 84th TCS.