Barney T. Justesen was born in Baker, White Pine County, Nevada, on the 4th of November, 1889. He graduated from the Utah A. C. in June, 1908, and immediately thereafter entered the employ of Nebeker, Hart and Nebeker, at Logan, Utah, as law stenographer. After remaining with that firm about a year, he returned to Ely, Nevada, where he was appointed Deputy Auditor and Recorder of White Pine County. He later resigned that office to accept a position as law stenographer for Chandler and Quayle. In the year 1912 he passed the civil service examinations, and in November of that year left for Washington, D. C., to enter the Bureau of Markets, Department of Agriculture. In June, 1913, at his own request, he was transferred to the Philippine Islands, being located at Manila. There he was connected with the Secret Service, and later transferred to the Judicial Department. In September, 1916, he returned to the States to again take up his duties in the department service in Washington. While thus employed, he attended night school at Georgetown University pursuing the study of law, and in June, 1917, was admitted to the Bar in Washington, D. C.
Having received his certificate, he immediately enlisted in the service of his Country, choosing the Air Service for his branch. He was detailed to the Georgia School of Technology to take up aviation studies and examinations and in this he succeeded so well that he was enabled to go to France with the 4th Detachment of Cadets for further training (October 9, 1917).

This detachment arrived at Issoudon, France, at that time the location of the Third Aviation Instruction Center, on November 2, 1917. After several months of routine training and service, he was selected as instructor in aerial machine gun work and sent to Cazaux, near Bordeaux, for duty as instructor. At his request, after several months service in that capacity, he was given preliminary flying instructions at the Second Aviation Instruction Center, Tours, after which he was returned to the Third Aviation Instruction Center, Issoudon, for advanced flying instructions. In May, 1918, he received his commission as 1st Lieutenant, and was selected as staff pilot for the purpose of flying student observers over the ranges, thus giving them proper experience under flying conditions, which they would meet in battle, and final instructions before being sent to the front. Lieutenant Justesen was continuously engaged in this work thereafter until the 14th of September, 1918, when he met with an accident which resulted in his death. The brave soldier who had volunteered his service to his country and who had worked his way upward from the ranks to a commission, left many admiring friends in Nevada. “He was a splendid young man,” wrote one of them, “and his death will be deeply mourned by all who knew him.” His parents, William and Harriet Justesen, who survive him, reside in Gridley, California.