Izac, Edouard Victor Michel, 1891-1990

Edouard Victor Michel Izac (December 18, 1891 – January 18, 1990), sometimes also known as Edouard Victor Michel Isaacs, was a lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient. After his military career, he served as a member of the House of Representatives for the state of California.

Born in Cresco, Iowa, Izac grew up in a rural setting, graduating from United States Naval Academy in 1915. He was posted to the troop transport USS President Lincoln in 1918 when that ship was sunk by German submarine U-90. Taken as a prisoner of war, Izac gathered intelligence on the submarine and its crew before being transferred to prison camps in Germany, from where he escaped in October 1918. In 1919, Izac produced a small book, "Prisoner of the U-90", recounting his experiences, for which he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. He served in the United States Navy as ensign, lieutenant, and senior lieutenant throughout his military service. Izac remained in active service, mainly at the Naval Gun Factory in Washington, D.C., until he retired in May 1921 for disability from wounds he received as a prisoner of war in Germany. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Izac was also awarded the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the Cross of Montenegro for his service.

Izac subsequently moved to San Diego and was elected as a Democrat to California's 20th congressional district, where he chaired the House Naval Affairs Committee and had oversight of Naval activities in the Pacific during World War II. Despite initially being hesitant to enter the war and remaining cautious to expanded U.S. involvement, experiences touring Nazi concentration camps in 1945 ultimately hardened his resolve. Nonetheless, he lost his bid for a sixth term in Congress in 1946. Izac spent much of the rest of his life writing and farming in the Washington D.C. area and was the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient when he died in 1990 at 98.