John Decator Barry was born in Wilmington, NC on 21 Jun 1839 and was a resident of New Hanover County, NC.  He was a banker by occupation.  He enlisted on 26 Aug 1861 at Camp Wyatt, NC as a Private.  He mustered into Company I, 18th NC Infantry on same day as enlistment. 

John was commissioned a Captain on 24 Apr 1862.  He was wounded at Frayser's Farm, VA on 30 Jun 1862 and returned to duty on 31 Oct 1862.  He was promoted to Major on 11 Nov 1862 and to Colonel on 3 May 1863.  He temporarily took command of the brigade when Brig. General Lane was wounded at Cold Harbor on 1 Jun 1864.  Colonel Barry was wounded by a sharpshooter on 2 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.  He returned to duty on 31 Jan 1865. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House on 9 Apr 1865 and was paroled on 12 Apr 1865 in Raleigh, NC.

He died on 24 Mar 1867 in Wilimington, NC.