Captain Barlow was the pilot of an AU-1 Corsair attack fighter with the Marine Attack Squadron 212, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On 13 July 1953, while on a combat mission, he flew into a solid cloud cover and became separated from his wingman. His aircraft crashed and burned.

Barlow was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.