Corporal Barlow was a member of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 30 September 1950 and returned to duty on 5 November 1950. He was seriously wounded again on 1 January 1951 and returned on 10 February 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 20 April 1951.

Barlow was awarded the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.