Cleveland enlisted in the Army at Fort McClellan, AL on 30 July 1943 and may have completed his basic training there as well.  He was a member of the 3rd Platoon, Company D of his basic training unit.

Cleveland volunteered for parachutist duty and the record shows that he completed jump school at Fort Benning although the date of graduation is not shown.

.On 23 September 1944 Pvt McCorkel left the U.S. bound for the ETO.  He was transferred to Company C, 508th PIR on 21 November 1944.

On 7 January 1945 McCorkel was wounded in action in Belgium.  He was evacuated to a field hospital and subsequently was transferred to its Detachment of Patients on 30 May 1945 and did not return to the regiment.

Pvt McCorkel left the ETO on 23 July 1945 and arrived in the U.S. the following day which indicates that he was flown on a convalescent flight.

Once back in the states he was hospitalized in the Welch Convalescent Hospital in Daytona Beach, FL.  He was awarded a disability rating and released from service on 23 October 1945.

Grave marker for Cleveland W. McCorkel and spouse in Terrebonne Memorial Park, Houma (Terrebonne Parish), Louisiana.