James Vincent Clemente was born on February 26, 1920 in Akron, Ohio, to Francesco and Vita Clemente in the all-Italian neighborhood of North Hill. He grew up there until graduating from North High School.

Before going off to serve, he got married and had a son. He was inducted into the service in the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 9, 1942. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the 445th Bomb Group, 703rd Bomb Squadron. He was a tail gunner and photographer who flew with the crew in a B-24 Liberator.