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Assigned to Train Squadron 3, Train, Atlantic Fleet, Barnett departed New York City early in October, bound for the West Indies. Over the next three months, the ship trained marines in landing force operations in the area of the Culebra and Vieques Islands near Puerto Rico, and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She returned to Norfolk, Va., in late December for an extensive overhaul. Out of the yard on 3 April 1941, Barnett spent the next eight months conducting landing operations and gunnery exercises in the Charleston, Norfolk, and Lynnhaven Roads operating areas.

Assigned to Train Squadron 3, Train, Atlantic Fleet, Barnett departed New York City early in October, bound for the West Indies. Over the next three months, the ship trained marines in landing force operations in the area of the Culebra and Vieques Islands near [[Puerto Rico]], and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She returned to Norfolk, Va., in late December for an extensive overhaul. Out of the yard on 3 April 1941, Barnett spent the next eight months conducting landing operations and gunnery exercises in the Charleston, Norfolk, and Lynnhaven Roads operating areas.

On 9 April, Barnett sailed from New York for the Panama Canal Zone bound ultimately for the Tonga Islands. Transferred to Transport Division (TransDiv) 10, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, after passing through the Panama Canal on the 19th, the troop transport zig-zagged all the way to Nukualofa, Tongatabu, which she reached on 8 May. There, she disembarked her passengers--Army officers and enlisted men--before preparing for a return trip home. On 15 May, Barnett embarked 1,360 survivors from Lexington (CV-2) sunk on 8 May during the Battle of the Coral Sea, and carried them to San Diego, where she arrived on 2 June.

On 9 April, Barnett sailed from New York for the Panama Canal Zone bound ultimately for the Tonga Islands. Transferred to Transport Division (TransDiv) 10, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, after passing through the Panama Canal on the 19th, the troop transport zig-zagged all the way to Nukualofa, Tongatabu, which she reached on 8 May. There, she disembarked her passengers--Army officers and enlisted men--before preparing for a return trip home. On 15 May, Barnett embarked 1,360 survivors from [[USS Lexington (CV-2)]] sunk on 8 May during the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]], and carried them to [[San Diego]], where she arrived on 2 June.

Steaming north to San Francisco on the 5th, the ship received hurried main engine repairs in the navy yard before embarking 2,026 marines and equipment earmarked for the United States' first offensive landing operation in the Pacific War--the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomons. Barnett sailed on 22 June, crossed the International Date Line on 6 July, and moored at Wellington, New Zealand, on the 11th. The ship's crew spent the next week laboriously rearranging supplies and equipment for combat operations. Underway on 22 July, the transport steamed to Koro in the Fiji Islands in company with Chicago (CA-29), Salt Lake City (CA-25), HMAS Australia, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Hobart, nine destroyers, and 11 other transports. Joined by additional convoy elements on the 26th, Barnett and the other transports conducted landing rehearsals for Operation "Watchtower."

Steaming north to [[San Francisco]] on the 5th, the ship received hurried main engine repairs in the navy yard before embarking 2,026 marines and equipment earmarked for the United States' first offensive landing operation in the Pacific War--the invasion of [[Guadalcanal]] and Tulagi in the Solomons. Barnett sailed on 22 June, crossed the International Date Line on 6 July, and moored at Wellington, New Zealand, on the 11th. The ship's crew spent the next week laboriously rearranging supplies and equipment for combat operations. Underway on 22 July, the transport steamed to Koro in the Fiji Islands in company with Chicago (CA-29), Salt Lake City (CA-25), HMAS Australia, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Hobart, nine destroyers, and 11 other transports. Joined by additional convoy elements on the 26th, Barnett and the other transports conducted landing rehearsals for Operation "Watchtower."

One of 15 attack transports and troopships assigned to Transport Group "X-Ray," Barnett proceeded to the Solomon Islands, arriving in the transport area off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, in the early morning of 7 August. At 0800, after accompanying cruisers and destroyers had softened up the beachhead, the transport began landing troops and equipment from all holds. All troops succeeded in getting ashore on "Red Beach" by 1045, but small Japanese aircraft raids twice interrupted the unloading of supplies and equipment that afternoon, delaying the transports departure. Around mid-day on 8 August, however, 23 Mitsubishi G4M1 Type 1 land attack planes, from the 4th and Misawa Kokutais, attacked the ships off Lunga Point.

One of 15 attack transports and troopships assigned to Transport Group "X-Ray," Barnett proceeded to the Solomon Islands, arriving in the transport area off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, in the early morning of 7 August. At 0800, after accompanying cruisers and destroyers had softened up the beachhead, the transport began landing troops and equipment from all holds. All troops succeeded in getting ashore on "Red Beach" by 1045, but small Japanese aircraft raids twice interrupted the unloading of supplies and equipment that afternoon, delaying the transports departure. Around mid-day on 8 August, however, 23 [[Mitsubishi G4M|Mitsubishi G4M1 Type 1 land attack planes]], from the 4th and Misawa Kokutais, attacked the ships off Lunga Point.

Barnett unloaded at Lunga Point on 26 November and, over the next three days, embarked 381 survivors from the four destroyers sunk during the 12 and 13 November night battle off Guadalcanal, as well as 94 wounded marines, 25 Japanese prisoners, and 31 Roman Catholic missionaries for evacuation. On the 28th, while the transport was still off Lunga Point, two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-16 passed down Barnett’s port side and struck Alchiba (AK-23), which was forced to beach. Barnett quickly retired from the area and disembarked her passengers at Espiritu Santo on the 30th. She then took 866 Northampton (CA-26) survivors on board on 2 December and got underway for the United States on the 4th, arriving at San Diego on 20 December.

Barnett unloaded at Lunga Point on 26 November and, over the next three days, embarked 381 survivors from the four destroyers sunk during the 12 and 13 November [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal|night battle off Guadalcanal]], as well as 94 wounded marines, 25 Japanese prisoners, and 31 Roman Catholic missionaries for evacuation. On the 28th, while the transport was still off Lunga Point, two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-16 passed down Barnett’s port side and struck Alchiba (AK-23), which was forced to beach. Barnett quickly retired from the area and disembarked her passengers at Espiritu Santo on the 30th. She then took 866 Northampton (CA-26) survivors on board on 2 December and got underway for the United States on the 4th, arriving at San Diego on 20 December.

On the morning of the 11th, while the transport unloaded stores and equipment into waiting LCTs, a flight of six German Heinkel He. 111 twin-engine bombers attacked the anchorage. A single bomb burst close aboard Barnett’s port bow, ripping through the hull plating and starting a fire in the upper and lower between decks. A fire-fighting team from Hopi (AT-71) helped put out the blaze and temporarily repaired the damage. Seven soldiers died, and another 35 suffered wounds in the explosion and fire. That evening, two other attacks, carried out by Junkers Ju. 88 bombers, sank the ammunition-laden freighter Robert Rowan before being driven off by antiaircraft fire. The transport embarked Army casualties from the battle ashore on 12 July and turned west for Algeria, arriving at Algiers on the 15th.

On the morning of the 11th, while the transport unloaded stores and equipment into waiting LCTs, a flight of six German Heinkel He. 111 twin-engine bombers attacked the anchorage. A single bomb burst close aboard Barnett’s port bow, ripping through the hull plating and starting a fire in the upper and lower between decks. A fire-fighting team from Hopi (AT-71) helped put out the blaze and temporarily repaired the damage. Seven soldiers died, and another 35 suffered wounds in the explosion and fire. That evening, two other attacks, carried out by Junkers Ju. 88 bombers, sank the ammunition-laden freighter Robert Rowan before being driven off by antiaircraft fire. The transport embarked Army casualties from the battle ashore on 12 July and turned west for [[Algeria]], arriving at Algiers on the 15th.

Shortly thereafter, the crew received word Barnett was needed for the massive amphibious operations planned in the Pacific. She joined a convoy sailing from Marseille to Oran on 20 October and then set course for Norfolk, where she arrived on 8 November. Following a five-week overhaul, Barnett steamed to Newport, R.I., on 15 December to embark troops and load cargo. Sailing south, she transited the Panama Canal on the 28th and arrived at Long Beach, Calif., on 6 January 1945. The transport then got underway on the 18th for the southern Pacific, stopping at Espiritu Santo between 3 and 7 February before anchoring off Guadalcanal on the 9th.

Shortly thereafter, the crew received word Barnett was needed for the massive amphibious operations planned in the Pacific. She joined a convoy sailing from Marseille to Oran on 20 October and then set course for Norfolk, where she arrived on 8 November. Following a five-week overhaul, Barnett steamed to Newport, R.I., on 15 December to embark troops and load cargo. Sailing south, she transited the Panama Canal on the 28th and arrived at Long Beach, Calif., on 6 January 1945. The transport then got underway on the 18th for the southern Pacific, stopping at Espiritu Santo between 3 and 7 February before anchoring off Guadalcanal on the 9th.

Barnett joined Transport Group “Baker,” consisting of 22 ships in TG 53.2, for several weeks of amphibious training in the Solomon Islands. After embarking elements of the 1st Marine Division, she set out on 15 March for Ulithi, the staging area for the invasion of Okinawa. The task group arrived at Ulithi Atoll on the 21st, joining the several hundred Navy, merchant marine, and Royal Navy ships anchored in the lagoon. After six days at the atoll, Barnett stood out for the Ryukyu Islands and Operation “Iceberg,” arriving off Okinawa on 1 April.

Barnett joined Transport Group “Baker,” consisting of 22 ships in TG 53.2, for several weeks of amphibious training in the Solomon Islands. After embarking elements of the 1st Marine Division, she set out on 15 March for Ulithi, the staging area for the invasion of Okinawa. The task group arrived at Ulithi Atoll on the 21st, joining the several hundred Navy, merchant marine, and Royal Navy ships anchored in the lagoon. After six days at the atoll, Barnett stood out for the Ryukyu Islands and Operation “Iceberg,” arriving off [[Okinawa]] on 1 April.