Brigadier General Harry W. Barnes enlisted as a private in Headquarters Detachment, Second Battalion, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, at Allen, Oklahoma, 11 October 1938. On 16 September 1940, he was mobilized with his National Guard unit and remained with the 45th Infantry Division during its training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Camp Barkley, Texas, in preparation for World War II. During this period, he progressed in rank to the grade of Staff Sergeant at which time he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from OCS Class Number 151 on 14 January 1943. His first duty assignment was as Executive Officer, Company M, 291st Infantry, 75th Infantry Division, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Commander, Company M, 291st Infantry, 75th Infantry Division, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Commander, Company D, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, European Theatre of Operations; Commander, Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Allen, Oklahoma; Executive Officer, First Battalion, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Ada, Oklahoma;  Assistant G-3, Headquarters 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Assistant G-3, Headquarters 45th Infantry Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Japan, Korea; G-1, Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, OK; G-1, Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard, Dallas, Texas; Inspector General, Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Commander, First Battle Group, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Okemah, Oklahoma; Commander, Second Brigade, 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Ada, Oklahoma; Deputy Commander, Emergency Operations Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Assistant Adjutant General of Oklahoma, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Commander, 90th Support Brigade Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Task Force Commander, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. | Military schools attended include: Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Armed Forces Information School, Air Ground Operations School  (The Indoctrination Course), Personnel Management Officer Course, Infantry Field Ground Officer Refresher, Air Transportability Course, National Guard Division Refresher, Command and General Staff Refresher, Combat Division Course, Associate Command and General Staff College, Armor Field Grade Officer Refresher, Civil Disturbance Orientation Course. Brigadier General Barns attended both East Central State University, Ada, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, as a pre-dental student. In 1957, he graduated from the Baylor University College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas. | His military awards include  Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal, w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Purple Heart; Good Conduct Medal (Army); Armed Forces Reserve Medal; American Defense Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Army Occupation Medal (Japan); Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; Oklahoma Distinguished Service Medal; and Oklahoma Long Service Medal (35 years).