A distinguished naval career that included heroic service during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was serving as Engineering Officer of USS LAFFEY (DD 459) on March 31, 1942, when it was hit during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He made his way to Guadalcanal and was senior officer in the survivor camp of some 1,100 men. Then, as Commanding Officer of USS DASHIELL (DD 659), he participated in operations at Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan, Kavieng, Hollandia, and Guam.

Ordered back to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944, he served in the Executive Department as one of six Battalion Officers and in 1946 he received orders to the staff of Commander Operational Development Force as the Project Coordinator for the testing of new tactics and weapons. In 1948, he assumed command of USS ENGLISH (DD 696). At the onset of hostilities in Korea, he was ordered to Tokyo, Japan, to serve on the staff of the Commander Naval Forces Far East as officer in control of shipping in far eastern waters. In 1954 he assumed command of Destroyer Division 262, radar picket destroyers deployed to the Mediterranean. His final command was of the Air Defense Training Center in Dam Neck, Virginia.

Admiral BARHAM’s decorations include Bronze Star with Combat V with a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star;a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V; a Presidential Citation; the Presidential Ribbon; American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp;  American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.