Edouard Issacs was born in Iowa in 1889. He enrolled in the Naval Academy, and graduated in 1915. During the war he served on the U.S.S. President Lincoln. His ship was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-90 on May 21, 1918. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Germany. While he was on the submarine he carefully studied the ship and made mental notes on german submarine warfare. As he was being sent to a prison camp, he was already planning his escape. During a train ride he broke free from his guards. He dove through a window while the train was moving. He was not killed by the guards who shot at him, or by the fall from a rapidly moving train. He was, however, recaptured by the Germans. This did not stop Issacs from planning another escape attempt. While being held in Southern Germany, he broke through a barbed wire fence surrounding the prison camp. He intentionally drew the fire from prison guards to help other soldiers escape. He was successful this time in getting away. He survived eating raw vegetables, and swam across the Rhine river in the middle of the night. He made it to the allied forces in France. He gave valuable information to the Allies, and would eventually retire from the Navy in 1921 due to his injuries. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor due to his bravery. He would later work as a newspaper person, and run for Congress. He would win election in 1937 and serve for 10 years. He lived to be 100 years old before dying in Virginia in 1989.
