– Photos courtesy of The City of Delphi
On Saturday, Dec. 7, the community of Delphi gathered at Veterans Memorial Plaza for a dedication in honor of two Carroll County fallen soldiers that gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Pearl Harbor attacks on Dec. 7, 1941.
The dedication saw an honoring of two men with the names of Billy Byron Baird, Seaman first class, and Elmer Lee Foreman, Fireman second class, who lost their lives during the attack.
Baird was born on Oct. 2, 1922, and Foreman was born on June 25, 1916, enlisting in the Navy as young men who strove to serve and defend the country during the war. The two men were serving on the USS Arizona, which was hit by four bombs that caused explosions that destroyed the ship, and historians believe that both men likely perished early in the battle.
Baird had graduated from Delphi High School in 1940, and he was reportedly popular with his schoolmates. Baird came from a serving family as his father, Byron, served in the field artillery in World War 1.
In 1940, Foreman was reported as living with Sarah Foreman west of Delphi, around 45-miles from his birthplace in Williamsport, Indiana, and he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Guard before enlisting in the Navy.
Their names are engraved on the Wall of Names aboard the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, and they have now been honored at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in Delphi, the city they called home.
Baird and Foreman were two of four men originating from Delphi who were in the area during the attack. Ivan Popejoy and his brother Walter Popejoy were gearing up to celebrate Ivan’s 22nd birthday with Baird and Foreman on the day of the attack; however, Baird and Foreman would perish on the Arizona while the Popejoy brothers survived, although their battleship, the West Virginia, was heavily damaged and sank with neither brother knowing if the other survived until the next day.
On the 50th anniversary of the attack in 1991, Walter Popejoy wrote of the experience, honoring both Foreman and Baird in his statement, courtesy of the USS Arizona Memorial.
The day I spent aboard the Arizona will never be forgotten. I said a prayer for Lee Foreman and William Baird, my friends from Delphi that were killed.
Around the stack on the boat deck was a mound of ashes–no doubt it was the remains of a lot of men.
Around one gun I saw the remains–just ashes–of the gun crew. A metal helmet was warped because of the intense heat and there were some ashes in it.
I looked down some of the boat deck hatches and saw bodies. I had seen a lot, but this made me sick at my stomach, and I was not alone.
Both Foreman and Baird joined the Navy on Oct. 8, 1940, traveling to Lafayette to enlist together. City of Delphi Community Development Director JT Doane spoke about the impact of the memorial service in honor of the two men held this past Saturday.
Honored to speak at the Veterans Memorial Plaza Dedication in honor of two fallen soldiers from Carroll County at Pearl Harbor on this solemn day.
The day is commemorative for two sailors from Carroll County, Billy Baird and Elmer Foreman, who died this day on the USS Arizona.
Never forget their bravery!
Veterans are our nation’s heroes.
The memorial took shape earlier this year as a means to commemorate the Carroll County sailors who sacrificed their lives for the country with the project being spearheaded by Legion Representative Gary Stanley, County Historian Mark Smith and Veteran Service Officer Larry Leach alongside the city, including JT Doane.
The memorial may be seen at the Veterans Memorial Plaza, which was dedicated on April 25, 2015, located east of Delphi on the Trail System at the eastern end of the Freedom Bridge.
