Edouard Izac
Encyclopedia
Edouard Victor Michel Izac (December 18, 1891 – January 18, 1990) was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy
during World War I
, a Representative
from California
and a Medal of Honor
recipient.
, Howard County
, Iowa
, to Balthazar (born in Alsace-Lorraine
) and Mathilda Geuth (born in Philadelphia, with the family heritage from Baden-Wurttemberg
). An immigration officer changed the family name from Izac to Isaacs when Balthazar had entered the United States in the 1850s.
Izac attended the School of the Assumption, Cresco, Iowa, the high school at South St. Paul, Minnesota
, and Werntz Preparatory School, Annapolis, Maryland
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1915. The day following his graduation from the academy he married Agnes Cabell (daughter of General De Rosey Carroll Cabell).
He first served on the battleship
, then after he was promoted from ensign to lieutenant (junior grade), he signed up for the Naval Transport Service
. During this time his daughter, Cabell (b. 1916), was born. He transferred to the in July 1917. From her maiden voyage in the U.S. Navy, October 18, 1917, she made five successful trips to Europe and back.
On May 31, 1918, his ship, President Lincoln was struck by three torpedoes from the German
submarine U–90. Izac was taken aboard the U–90 as prisoner. Later, he escaped from a German prison camp. He was forced to retire in 1921 on account of wounds received while a prisoner of war
in Germany
. His awards included the Croce di Guerra
of Italy
and the Cross of Montenegro.
Izac then relocated to San Diego, California
, and engaged in newspaper work and writing from 1922 to 1928. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1934 to the Seventy-fourth Congress, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s in 1940 and 1944. Izac was elected as a Democrat
to the Seventy-fifth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1937-January 3, 1947). He lost his reelection bid in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress.
Interested in lumbering, Izac raised thoroughbred cattle on a farm in Gordonsville, Virginia
, before residing in Bethesda, Maryland
.
Izac was a resident of Fairfax, Virginia
, from 1988 until his death in 1990. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Edouard Isaac had 5 children and 19 grand children and 25 great grand children
.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Aboard German submarine U-90 as prisoner of war, May 21, 1918. Entered service at: Illinois. Born: December 18, 1891, Cresco, Howard County, Iowa.
Citation:
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient.
Biography
Born with the last name of Isaacs, the youngest of nine children, in CrescoCresco, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,905 people, 1,652 households, and 1,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,184.1 people per square mile . There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of 543.1 per square mile...
, Howard County
Howard County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,566 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,367 housing units, of which 3,944 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, to Balthazar (born in Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
) and Mathilda Geuth (born in Philadelphia, with the family heritage from Baden-Wurttemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
). An immigration officer changed the family name from Izac to Isaacs when Balthazar had entered the United States in the 1850s.
Izac attended the School of the Assumption, Cresco, Iowa, the high school at South St. Paul, Minnesota
South St. Paul, Minnesota
South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, immediately south and southeast of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is also southeast of West St. Paul, Minnesota. The population was 20,160 at the 2010 census. It is notable as one of the historic major meat packing cities in the United...
, and Werntz Preparatory School, Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1915. The day following his graduation from the academy he married Agnes Cabell (daughter of General De Rosey Carroll Cabell).
He first served on the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, then after he was promoted from ensign to lieutenant (junior grade), he signed up for the Naval Transport Service
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
. During this time his daughter, Cabell (b. 1916), was born. He transferred to the in July 1917. From her maiden voyage in the U.S. Navy, October 18, 1917, she made five successful trips to Europe and back.
On May 31, 1918, his ship, President Lincoln was struck by three torpedoes from the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
submarine U–90. Izac was taken aboard the U–90 as prisoner. Later, he escaped from a German prison camp. He was forced to retire in 1921 on account of wounds received while a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. His awards included the Croce di Guerra
Croce di Guerra
The Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare is an Italian decoration for military valour.- Past recipients :* Edouard Izac, Lieutenant, United States Navy* Douglas MacArthur, General, United States Army...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the Cross of Montenegro.
Izac then relocated to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and engaged in newspaper work and writing from 1922 to 1928. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1934 to the Seventy-fourth Congress, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s in 1940 and 1944. Izac was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Seventy-fifth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1937-January 3, 1947). He lost his reelection bid in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress.
Interested in lumbering, Izac raised thoroughbred cattle on a farm in Gordonsville, Virginia
Gordonsville, Virginia
Gordonsville is a town in Louisa and Orange counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 1,496 at the 2010 census.-History:Nathaniel Gordon purchased in 1787 and in 1794, or possibly earlier, applied for and was granted a license to operate a tavern...
, before residing in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
.
Izac was a resident of Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, from 1988 until his death in 1990. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Edouard Isaac had 5 children and 19 grand children and 25 great grand children
Inspection of liberated concentration camps
In 1945, Izak traveled to Europe where he inspected the recently liberated concentration camp of BuchenwaldBuchenwald concentration camp
Buchenwald concentration camp was a German Nazi concentration camp established on the Ettersberg near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937, one of the first and the largest of the concentration camps on German soil.Camp prisoners from all over Europe and Russia—Jews, non-Jewish Poles and Slovenes,...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Citation:
When the U.S.S. President Lincoln was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-90, on May 21, 1918, Lt. Izac was captured and held as a prisoner on board the U-90 until the return of the submarine to Germany, when he was confined in the prison camp. During his stay on the U-90 he obtained information of the movements of German submarines which was so important that he was determined to escape, with a view to making this information available to the U.S. and Allied Naval authorities. In attempting to carry out this plan, he jumped through the window of a rapidly moving train at the imminent risk of death, not only from the nature of the act itself but from the fire of the armed German soldiers who were guarding him. Having been recaptured and reconfined, Lt. Izac made a second and successful attempt to escape, breaking his way through barbed-wire fences and deliberately drawing the fire of the armed guards in the hope of permitting others to escape during the confusion. He made his way through the mountains of southwestern Germany, having only raw vegetables for food, and at the end, swam the River Rhine during the night in the immediate vicinity of German sentries.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I
Further reading
- Izac, Edouard Victor Michel, The Holy Land—Then and Now, (Vantage Press, 1965).