Sergeant Barton was a medic with the Medical Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 7 September 1950 and returned to duty on 30 October 1950. He was Killed in Action while tending his wounded comrades in South Korea on 12 February 1951.

Barton was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.