

### THE KINDEST PEOPLE: HEROES AND GOOD SAMARITANS, VOLUME 6

By David Bruce

Be excellent to each other.

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright 2012 by Bruce D. Bruce

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CHAPTER 1: STORIES 1-50

" **I did Ask Why She Didn't Call an Ambulance, and She Said She Couldn't Afford One"**

On 25 November 2006 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, Jess Thompson came to the rescue of a young woman in labor. Ms. Thompson, who had finished working at the Lazy Fisherman, said, "I was heading home when I saw a young woman crossing the James Street intersection, heading towards Diagonal Street. From the back, she was hunching down and walking really slowly. I kept on driving, but I looked in the rear-view mirror and she looked like she was in a lot of pain." Ms. Thompson turned her car around and went back. She said, "I could see straight away she was pregnant, so I pulled over and got out of the car. I called out to her, 'Excuse me, are you okay?' and she said, 'I think I'm having my baby.'" The pregnant woman appeared to be 19 years old, and blood was on the long white skirt she was wearing. Ms. Thompson said, "I just sort of froze and then said about a hundred things like, 'So you want a lift?' and that she should be in a hospital. I had towels in my car so I put them in the back and helped her in. She was crying and yelling, so I tried to keep her calm. I kept thinking, 'Don't have your baby in my car.'" Ms. Thompson drove the young woman to the Toowoomba Hospital and walked her to the counter. Ms. Thompson said, "They got a few people to come out to help her and then I left. I didn't really want to ask too many questions; she was clearly upset. I did ask why she didn't call an ambulance, and she said she couldn't afford one." Ms. Thompson added, "I was a bit scared. I'm not really one to pull over, but I kept thinking, 'What if it were me or someone I knew?' There weren't many other cars on the road, so it was a good thing that I stopped. I was going to go out after work, but I was too shaken up." (1)

" **When They Put Her on the Machine, There was a Little Heartbeat Going Boom, Boom, Boom. They Got a Healthy Mother and a Healthy Baby"**

On 20 June 2012, Karen Gibberd, age 36 and six months pregnant, worried that she would lose her unborn baby. She lives on a remote farm in New Zealand; to get to the farm required 40 minutes of travel on a gravel road. Ms. Gibberd said, "I started bleeding about tea time, and then it got worse. So I rang the midwife in Wairoa, and she said to ring the ambulance because I was probably losing the baby. When the ambulance arrived, they decided to call for help. Then the helicopter arrived, and once I was on board I just closed my eyes." She had good reason to be worried: "I didn't know if the baby was still alive or not, because I couldn't feel any movements." The Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter airlifted Ms. Gibberd to Hawkes Bay Hospital, where her mother, Maree Jermyn, who lives in Taradale, met her. Meanwhile, her husband, Chris, got care for their four children and then drove 180km (111 miles) to the hospital to be with her. Ms. Jermyn said about the hospital medical personnel who took care of the pregnant Ms. Gibberd, "They didn't know what they were getting. But when they put her on the machine, there was a little heartbeat going boom, boom, boom. They got a healthy mother and a healthy baby." Ms. Gibberd said, "When I arrived, they did the scan and were going to monitor the bleeding overnight. But overnight the labour progressed, and I ended up delivering the baby naturally at 7 the next morning. After four caesareans, they never thought that would be possible." The baby, Maggie Rose, was put in the special care baby unit. Michelle Robertson, the clinical nurse manager of the special care baby unit and of paediatrics, said the emergency transport to Hawkes Bay Hospital had saved the unborn baby: "Wairoa wouldn't have been able to do it up there. There would have been a 40-minute to an hour delay if we had gone up there. That's a long time for a baby. They need to be in the right environment, with breathing support and all the right facilities that they need." Because Maggie Rose is a three-months premature baby, she was expected to stay in the hospital until at least the end of August. (2)

Charitable Comedians

Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor worked together in restaurants for a while. Mr. Durante was a piano player, while Mr. Cantor was a singing waiter. Often, they played requests from customers. If they didn't know a song, they created one on the spot, then feigned innocence: "You mean there's two 'South Nebraska Blues'?" By the way, George Jessel had a lot of respect for his friend Eddie Cantor, who raised millions of dollars for charity: "He was the only guy who would come into a town and instead of saying, 'Get the notices,' would say, 'What can I do to help in this town?'" Mr. Durante also worked hard at benefits for charity, as did Bob Hope, who once said, "My wife is so Catholic that we can't get fire insurance—too many candles in our house." (3)

" **The Greatest Honor a Man Can Have is the Respect and Friendship of His Peers"**

Jerry West played to win, and he won an NBA Championship in 1972; unfortunately, his Los Angeles Lakers lost numerous times in the finals, often to the Boston Celtics. After one loss in the finals, he drove his wife, Jane, home, dropped her off, and then drove away to be by himself. Jane explained, "Jerry doesn't like anybody to see him cry." The Celtics knew and respected Jerry. After winning yet another NBA Championship by defeating the Lakers, the Celtics went to the Lakers locker room to tell Jerry how much they respected him. Celtic John Havlicek even told Jerry, "I love you, Jerry." Jerry was a team player just like Celtic Bill Russell, who won 10 NBA Championships in his 12 years of playing in the NBA. In 1971, Jerry was injured and on crutches. The Lakers honored him with a tribute night. Bill used his own money to travel cross-country so he could honor Jerry. Bill told him, "Jerry, the greatest honor a man can have is the respect and friendship of his peers. You have that more than any man I know. You are, in every sense of the word, a champion, and if I could have one wish granted, it would be that you would always be happy." After retiring as a player, Jerry became General Manager of the Lakers and helped put together some NBA Championship-winning Laker teams. (4)

Do the Olympics Give Medals for Stopping a Five-Year-Old Girl's Tears?

In May 2012 at the Life Centre swimming pool in Plymouth, England, a five-year-old girl named Ruby Davidson started crying because she was afraid of the deep water. Olympic-medal diving hopefuls Tom Daley, Tonia Couch (who first noticed the crying girl), and Brooke Graddon comforted her and gave her a private swimming lesson, despite being busy preparing for the 2012 London Olympics. Ruby's mother, Claire Davidson, said, "The water is very deep, and it's a very dark blue, and she's only just started swimming." The three Olympic-medal diving hopefuls were able to persuade Ruby not to be so frightened of the water. Ruby even jumped into the water from the side of the pool. Ms. Davidson said, "It was amazing. You would have thought someone like Tom Daley, who is a big star, wouldn't have even noticed her, but to take quite a bit of time out from practicing for the Olympics and to reassure Ruby, and spend time with her, is fantastic. They were all really nice, and kind, and reassuring, and now my daughter is really looking forward to her next lesson. When you think of how busy they've been, to go and reassure a five-year-old in tears is a brilliant thing." She added, "When we were in the car going back, Ruby said, 'Mummy, I really love Tom Daley,' and I said to her, 'We all do.' I really hope Tom, Brooke, and Tonia all win gold medals at the Olympics." (5)

" **It's Very Poignant that He Gave Up His Life for Someone Else... That He was a Poor Swimmer Speaks to the Concern He had for These Little Girls"**

On 2 April 2011 at Lake Okhissa in Franklin County, Mississippi, three girls—twins Stormy and Aaliyah Dunnaway, age nine, and Audrionna Lofton, age seven—were in danger of drowning. Michael Jackson of Bude, Mississippi, rescued Aaliyah. Bobby Joe O'Quinn III, also of Bude, rescued Stormy, although he was a poor swimmer. But Mr. O'Quinn drowned when he returned to the water and tried to rescue Audrionna, who also drowned. In June 2012, Mr. O'Quinn was awarded a posthumous Carnegie Medal for his heroism. Mr. O'Quinn was a Copiah-Lincoln Community College defensive lineman, and the Copiah-Lincoln Athletic Department now awards the Bobby O'Quinn Courage Award to a deserving Wolfpack football player at the college's awards day, which is held each April. Wolfpack head coach Glenn Davis said, "Those kids have to be character kids and kids that other kids look up to or respond to. Those are the kind of guys we want to make sure will always receive that award." Demechery Hickingbottom, who played with Mr. O'Quinn at Franklin County High School, was the first recipient of the Bobby O'Quinn Courage Award. He said, "I knew him as a person. He was always the one who helped me out during school. He'd help me with what I did wrong. It feels good to honor him." Coach Grady McClusky, who used to coach Mr. O'Quinn at Franklin County High School, said, "He was a big personality, and he was always helping people less fortunate than him. Even on the football field, he was helping show guys how to do stuff. It didn't surprise me when I heard he went into the water to save someone, because that's what kind of person he was. If a house was burning down, he'd run in there to save someone, I'm pretty sure." The Bobby O'Quinn Memorial Scholarship, an endowed scholarship, has also been set up in Mr. O'Quinn's name. It goes to a Copiah-Lincoln first-year student in a career-technical or academic program. Spokesperson Natalie Davis said, "For such a young person to do such a selfless thing as that, it brings you down to reality and makes you realize what's important in life. We were just proud to have him here. He's set an example for humanity, in my opinion." Mr. Davis said, "Here's a guy who made the ultimate sacrifice for somebody else. As a team, we just kind of say, 'Wow, a guy who was right here did something like that.' So it's something you keep mentioning and telling the kids about, like, 'You think you have it tough? Here's a guy that paid the ultimate price.'" Carnegie Hero Fund Foundation Executive Director Walter Rutkowski said, "In this particular case, it's very poignant that he gave up his life for someone else. It's a primary requirement that you have to risk your life to an extraordinary degree. The fact that our understanding is that he was a poor swimmer speaks to the concern he had for these little girls." Mr. McClusky said, "He wasn't a scared person. He'd put himself out there even if he got himself in trouble doing it. It doesn't seem like he was scared of life too much. He just lived it and did what he had to do, just like he thought he had to go in that water, and he reacted and did it." Mr. O'Quinn's mother, Valeria, said, "Not a day goes by that he doesn't cross my mind." Mr. McClusky said, "I'm still just sorry for his mother; I know she's still grieving. Bobby lived his life. It wasn't long, but the years he was here, he really lived. A lot of people can't say that." Valeria said about the Carnegie Medal, "It makes me feel good inside. I feel like he would be proud. He always wanted to do his best at everything." (6)

" **I Just Want to be a Normal Kid"**

On 4 June 2012, Lindsey Duquette, a 10-year-old girl who lost both of her kidneys in May 2011 because she has the rare kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, received a new kidney that was donated by her father, former New York Mets General Manager and current major-league baseball analyst Jim Duquette. The operation took place at the new Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children's Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Lindsey had with her the pink satin blanket that she had had ever since she was a baby. One of her major hopes during her time at the hospital was that the medical equipment not beep too much. She said, "I hate the beeps. They scare me." Lindsey has already given her new kidney a name: "I'm calling it Raven." The Ravens are her local National Football League team. With her new kidney, Lindsey no longer has to have dialysis for 14 hours a day. She said, "I just want to be a normal kid." She added, "I won't be hooked up to a machine anymore. I won't have this tube coming out of my stomach, and I will be able to go on sleepovers whenever I want." She does have one worry. Sometimes, the recipient of a new kidney acquires a taste for the food and drink that the donor likes. Lindsey told her father, "I better not wake up liking wine instead of ice cream." (7)

" **You Ask for a Doctor—They Don't Believe Me"**

Baseball player Joe Garagiola once made a speech during which the program chairman became ill and slumped over. Mr. Garagiola started asking for a doctor over the microphone, but because he is a humorous speaker, the audience started to laugh. Finally, he turned to main speaker Harry Truman and said, "You ask for a doctor—they don't believe me." This worked, and the chairman's life was saved. (8)

Hammerin' Hank: True to His Religion

Detroit first-baseman Hank Greenberg, aka Hammerin' Hank or The Hebrew Hammer, was Jewish, something that some people respected and some people didn't. In 1934 his team was involved in a pennant race, and Yom Kippur was coming up. Should Mr. Greenberg play on Yom Kippur? He decided not to play. Edgar Guest wrote a poem that expressed the view of many fans and that ended with a character named Murphy (an Irish Catholic name) "We shall miss him in the infield and shall miss him at the bat, / But he's true to his religion—and I honor him for that!" The 1930s were a time of anti-Semitism, and Hammerin' Hank faced that. Once, a White Sox player shouted insults at him during a game. Hammerin' Hank showed no emotion during the game, but after the game he went to the White Sox clubhouse and asked the insulting player to stand up. No one did. Mr. Greenwood then went from one White Sox player to another and asked if he had been the playing insulting him. No player admitted to the vile deed, and Mr. Greenberg left and said no more about the incident. The White Sox player ceased insulting him. By the way, at age 30, Mr. Greenberg was drafted by the military in the spring of 1941 and did not complain but instead did his military duty. He was released from military service—as overage—on 5 December of the same year, but after the Japanese bombed American ships two days later at Pearl Harbor, Mr. Greenberg re-enlisted. He sacrificed nearly five baseball seasons so he could perform his military duty. He was also one of the first athletes to charge fans for his autograph. He charged $1. He matched the money he made that way and donated all of it to Pets Adoption. (9)

George Majerkurth: Fighting Man

George Majerkurth was an early umpire whom many fans loved because of his fighting ability. Once, a baseball fan who didn't like him threw a soda pop bottle at him. The fan missed, but Mr. Majerkurth picked up the bottle, threw it, and hit the fan in the shoulder. On another occasion, Mr. Majerkurth got into a fight with a fan and punched him. As a result, he was fined, but the other fans took up a collection to pay his fine. (10)

A Caring Mother

After woman jockey Mary Bacon got divorced, her former husband had nothing to do with their daughter. He didn't see her, didn't call her, didn't give her birthday presents. Just before her fourth birthday, his daughter used to think each day that the mail carrier was going to bring her a present from her father, but nothing ever came. Finally, the daughter told her mother, "Daddy doesn't love me anymore." Ms. Bacon ended up buying a present, signing her ex-husband's name on a card, and mailing the present and card to her daughter. (11)

" **I Just Thought I was Doing the Right Thing, and I Think Others would have Done the Same"**

On 2 June 2012, Arden McMath of Arlington, Ohio, said she was "blacking in and out" and then she collapsed in the Division III 3200-meter finals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state track meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, a few yards away from the finish line. In last place, Meghan Vogel of West Liberty-Salem, Ohio, caught up to her. Instead of passing her and avoiding the last-place finish, Meghan helped Arden across the finish line and made sure that Arden crossed the finish line ahead of her. Meghan, a 17-year-old junior, said about the praise bestowed on her for her act of sportsmanship, "It's an honor and very humbling. I just thought I was doing the right thing, and I think others would have done the same." Arden, a 16-year-old sophomore, said, "I really don't think just everyone would have done that. I just couldn't believe what she did—especially pushing me in front of her—and I'm so grateful." Meghan's mother, Ann Vogel, who is West Liberty-Salem's track and field coach, said, "People were coming up to us in tears and hugging both of us after the race." Meghan said about the public attention, "It's been nice, but it also will be nice to get back to normal." (By the way, earlier, Meghan won the 1,600-meter race.) (12)

An Impressive Compliment

Eugenio Monti, an Italian, was an Alpine skier before tearing ligaments in both of his knees in a fall. For a while, he gave up winter sports, but he found a way to continue competing by becoming a bobsled driver. At the 1968 Olympic Games, he won two gold medals, in the two- and four-man bobsled races, and Erwin Thaler of Austria paid him this compliment: "If we must lose, we're glad it's to Monti." (13)

" **If You Want to be a** **Writer, You Have to Write"**

Fantasy writer Neil Gaiman knew and respected Ray Bradbury, who died on 5 June 2012 at the age of 91, and so did many of Mr. Gaiman's friends. A week before Mr. Bradbury died, Mr. Gaiman had dinner with a friend (no name given) who told him about meeting Mr. Bradbury when the friend was 11 or 12. The friend told Mr. Bradbury that he wanted to be a writer, and Mr. Bradbury spent half a day talking to him and giving him advice. The most important advice, of course, is this: If you want to be a writer, you have to write. In Mr. Bradbury's opinion, you have to write every day. This is advice that Mr. Bradbury himself followed. Mr. Gaiman's friend, like Mr. Gaiman, became a professional writer. After Mr. Bradbury died, Mr. Gaiman wrote, "Ray Bradbury was the kind of person who would give half a day to a kid who wanted to be a writer when he grew up." (14)

World Book Night: "An Intellectual Halloween"

The second annual World Book Night occurred on 23 April 2012—April 23 is the day William Shakespeare was born and Miguel Cervantes died. In the United States, 500,000 paperback books were given away free, and in the United Kingdom 1 million paperback books were given away free. All authors gave up their royalties. Publishers, printers, and paper companies underwrote the other costs, and volunteers gave away 20 books each. Novelist and essayist Anna Quindlen, the program's honorary chairwoman, said that World Book Night is "like an intellectual Halloween, only better. We're giving out books, not just Mars bars." Carl Lennertz, the program's director, said that the purpose of World Book Night "is to get good books in the hands of people who are underserved because of income or location or other reasons. It's also about giving. There may not be anything that says, 'I care about someone else, friend or stranger,' more than handing them a book that you personally love and want to share. Maybe food, but that's quickly gone." Thirty titles were given away, including Suzanne Collins' _The Hunger Games_ and Patti Smith's _Just Kids_. Mallory Grigg, a children's book designer, said that she knows of "no better way to celebrate reading than to share a book with someone. It's our nature to share stories." (15)

Grandfather Dickinson's Last Act on Earth

When she was a small girl, Joy Wallace Dickinson, a history columnist for _The Orlando Sentinel_ (Florida), used to travel with her family from up north to central Florida. They always traveled by railroad because she came from a railroad family. At the time, people dressed up to travel, and her grandfather, George Nibloc Dickinson, a railroad engineer for the Pittsburgh and Erie line, wore a double-breasted suit. Her Grandfather Dickinson died of a heart attack; his last act on earth was to safely stop the train. (16)

" **THANKS TO MY** _LISTENING DEVICE_ **, I** _HEAR_ **SOMEONE IN** _TROUBLE_ **"**

In 2012, Anthony Smith, a four-year-old boy with a hearing disability in Manchester, New Hampshire, woke up one day and decided that he no longer wanted to wear his blue hearing aid, which he and his family call his "blue ear," giving as his reason that superheroes don't wear blue ears. His mother, Christina D'Allesandro, said, "Basically, one day he woke up and I said, 'OK, time to put in your hearing aid,' and said, 'Let's put in blue ear.' We've always called it that. And he said, 'No, superheroes don't wear blue ears.'" His mother assured him that superheroes do wear blue ears, and she emailed Marvel Comics in New York City for confirmation. Marvel emailed back a cover of a comic book featuring Hawkeye, a superhero who has lost his hearing. This cover greatly impressed Anthony. Then Marvel sent a sketch of a new and young superhero named Blue Ear, who said in a dialogue bubble, "THANKS TO MY **LISTENING DEVICE** , I **HEAR** SOMEONE IN **TROUBLE**." Next arrived a sketch of Hawkeye and a much smaller Blue Ear together. Anthony's grandfather, New Hampshire Senator Lou D'Allesandro, said, "This is a feel-good moment. This is a feel-good story, and we've got to get the world to recognize that." Now Anthony is proud to wear his blue ear. (17)

Eventually, He Stood Up Straight—16 Years After the Accident

About 20 years previously to 2012, Todd Spaur's car went off a highway and crashed, trapping him under the wreckage for 16 hours. His back, neck, and most of the bones in his face were broken. In 2012, Mr. Spaur said about that time, "I just wanted to die." Doctors did not believe that Mr. Spaur would ever be able to walk; they thought that he would live the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He said, "I could only wiggle one toe. Doctors put steel rods in my back, so I couldn't bend. Hooks over the vertebrae to keep my back stiff." Mr. Spaur, who was in great pain, said that he thought then, "If I can't get some relief, I'm going to kill myself." But he got a lot of help from his family and friends and people in Bussey, Iowa, whose population in 2012 was 422. He said, "It was hard. But friends and family believed in me, and that meant a lot. I looked at myself in the mirror and asked the nurse for a comb." His first goal was to walk. He said, "Even if all I could do was stand up and drag the lower half of my body, I could live with that." Eventually, he took his first step: "I cried. Terrible pain. I was hunched over to where it made walking even harder than it should've been. Once [when] I got up doing physical therapy, the rods came loose in my back and poked out. Doctors had to cut them all out and redo the whole thing." Eventually, he stood up straight—16 years after the accident. He joked, "My doctor's name was Smucker. He had to be good." Today, Mr. Spaur can walk, but he needs the help of a cane: "I still have a lot of pain, but it's not agonizing like before." The people of Bussey had helped him, and he decided to pay them back by painting a mural of the town's residents on the side of a building. In July 2012, Mr. Spaur had worked on the mural, which shows a Fourth of July parade, for 10 months. During the recovery from his accident, he had taken art classes. He said, "You have to reinvent yourself. Go on with what capabilities you have. Just do the best you can." He added, "The more pain you have, the greater the pleasures are in life. They're sweeter." (18)

The Edge Acquires Another Neat Name: Good Samaritan

In June 2012, some people from San Francisco, California—a father and his son and daughter—who were touring Ireland lost a rucksack that contained their passports. They discovered that it was missing when they arrived at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney; apparently, they had left it behind at the Killiney DART Station. Hotel reception manager Luighsighe Kenny said, "It was their last night in Ireland, and they were supposed to be flying home the next day so the father was panicked." Fortunately, U2's The Edge and one of his friends found the rucksack, which had on it a label with the hotel's address. They sent a message to the hotel and had the rucksack delivered to the Americans. The Edge left in the rucksack a U2 CD that he had signed and a note saying, "Hope your journey ends well." Ms. Kenny said, "It was amazing because the father was a huge U2 fan and went to see one of their live shows in the '80s. They didn't really want to publicise it because The Edge had done it privately, but they said it was such a nice story that they agreed to put their photo on our Facebook page." A spokesperson for The Edge said, "It definitely wasn't The Edge who dropped it [the bag] [off at the hotel], but he had someone do it on his behalf. It was a very kind gesture on his part. We don't know if it was he himself who found it or what. But he certainly organised its return." (19)

Lissencephaly and a Love of Justin Bieber's Music

Shortly after she was born, Megan Ham, now age 11 and a 5th-grader, was diagnosed with the rare disease Lissencephaly—only 1,500 cases of children with the disease are found worldwide. She has severe neurological impairments and was not expected to live past age two. Megan's father, Michael Ham, said, "She's had as many as 70 seizures in a day, but usually it is around five." Megan cannot walk or talk, and possibly she does not even recognize members of her family and never will be able to recognize them. Megan's mother, Roxanne Ham, said, "We've just taken every step we can to make her quality of life better and longer, but we still wake up every morning, hoping that she's still here with us." However, in a testament to the power of music, Megan does respond to at least one thing: the music of Justin Bieber. Her mother said, "She just can't get enough of him." One of Mr. Bieber's songs played on the radio one day, and Megan's teachers at Hearthwood Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington, noticed that she responded to the music. Today, her wheelchair has a switch that when activated plays Justin Bieber's music. When Megan hears his music, she reacts and sometimes kicks her feet. Kim Graves, one of Megan's teachers, said, "It really helps her to get through the day. It keeps her happy, and it keeps her comfortable." Her father said, "It makes me want to cry, she's happy and she's healthy, it's a pretty big deal." Mr. Bieber has heard about Megan. He tweeted, "MEGAN you stay strong for me and I'm gonna make sure we meet when i come to Portland. Love you and Thank You :)." (20)

Father Cries Because His Daughter is So Happy

Brisbane, Australia, father Anthony Lee wants his daughter, Catie Rose, to be happy. Like many teenage girls, she is infatuated with the British boy band One Direction, and like many teenage girls she wants to meet the members of the band. It took a lot of effort, but Mr. Lee made sure that Catie Lee could meet One Direction. They knew that One Direction was doing a photo shoot in Brisbane in April 2012. Mr. Lee said, "We waited for three hours, and when they came out we met them." For two years, he had been trying to find a way for his daughter to meet the band: "We've tried every competition—you name it, we've done it." Mr. Lee even cried when his daughter met the members of One Direction because Catie Rose was so happy: "It's taken so long to get her here, and she's got a signed thing by them. She's done it." He added, "We never got tickets but we got the best thing, a hug from Harry [Styles] and autographs from all the boys." Catie Rose also cried, saying, "I love him [her father] so much." The two made an appearance on Australia's _TODAY Show_ , and interview host Karl Stefanovic promised to get the entire Rose family tickets to the next One Direction concert in Australia. (21)

Jennifer Lawrence and Other Good Samaritans

On 25 June 2012, a teenage girl collapsed on the lawn outside the apartment building where movie star Jennifer Lawrence of _The Hunger Games_ and _Winter's Bone_ fame lives. Sergeant Richard Lewis of the Santa Monica (California) Police said that Ms. Lawrence "was walking her dog when she saw the juvenile. She stood by as a Good Samaritan until officers arrived and spoke with them." He added, "It was a couple of juveniles involved in the incident. It could have been alcohol related. She's [the juvenile is] okay." A friend of the juvenile took her home. Another account differed a little. A photographer said, "Jennifer ran outside her apartment when she heard a girl scream and immediately called 911. When the EMT arrived, she stayed to make sure everything was okay. She was really scared for the girl." Other Good Samaritans stopped and stayed by the teenage girl until police arrived. (22)

The World's Most Ardent Golfer

In 1951, Victor Mature acted in a movie version of George Bernard Shaw's _Androcles and the Lion_. An extra in the movie suddenly died, and to raise some much-needed money, his wife raffled off his golf clubs. A kind man, Mr. Mature bought every raffle ticket and gave the widow an additional $100. He had never played golf, but he decided to give the game a try. According to his friend Jim Backus, the world's most ardent golfer was born the first time Mr. Mature played the game. Mr. Mature quickly joined a country club, at which (unless he was making a movie) he would arrive before it was open (he had a key, and he had a caddy he had hired), play 18 holes, then join a foursome (who thought that they were getting an early start) and play another 18 holes, and then play the back nine with another group of golfers (a good-looking, strong movie star can join most groups). Then he would eat lunch, followed by many more rounds of golf. At dark, he would invite friends back to his house for dinner, after which they would go to his living room, in which he had set up a miniature course for putting. After lots of putting, he would go to bed at 1 or 2 a.m. and then rise early to play more golf. (23)

Walt Disney: A Kind Man

Walt Disney was a kind man, and he was generous to his children and nephews and nieces and the children of friends, and all of these children received a steady stream of toys. Frequently, Mr. Disney and lots of children made short trips with the goal of eating ice cream. His niece, Margaret, said, "Aunt Lilly [Mrs. Walt Disney] made me clothes for my dolls, and Uncle Walt gave me skates and scooters." When Margaret got married, Uncle Walt paid for the wedding and for a trip to Europe. When Dorothy, his niece, was ready for her first prom, Uncle Walt bought her dress. And he sent one of Lilly's nephews, Bill Papineau, through college. (24)

Snow White's Scary Adventures

The favorite place on Earth for Alan Philipson's 18-year-old son, Ben, who has autism, was the Snow White's Scary Adventures ride at Walt Disney World in Florida. His family even moved—from Seattle!—close to the park in 2003 so that Ben could enjoy the ride often. He rode the ride 3,451 times before its final day of operation, and on 31 May 2012 he rode it many more times, including the very last time before it closed for new construction. The good people at Walt Disney World made Ben's last ride special. He even met Snow White herself, who visited Ben at 7 p.m. after he had rode the ride a few more times. (Ben even got to go on the ride with Snow White—and he got to hold Snow White's hand!) After Ben's 3,493rd ride, during which his father, mother, and grandfather accompanied him, Disney gave him a photo CD with more than 80 photographs taken when Snow White met Ben. But Disney still wasn't done. After the park closed, Disney kept the ride open so that Ben could have more rides and reach ride 3,500! What's more, Ben took ride 3,500 by himself! Mr. Philipson wrote a series of six blog entries about Ben's special night. In the first blog entry, he thanked many, many people at Disney for help, ending with these words: "On behalf of Benjamin and of the rest of our family: Thank you. Really, truly, thank you so very much. I simply have no words. (Well, I mean, aside from all of these words I just typed, I guess...)" (25)

Two Thousand Telephone Calls a Year

Charlie Stump was a weatherman, and he was one of Orlando, Florida's earliest TV stars. He died on New Year's Eve in 1974. In a televised tribute, WFTV General Manager Walter Windsor said, "I suppose Charlie Stump took about two thousand phone calls from people wanting personal weather forecasts for their fishing, boating, flying, camping, or traveling activities. I know of no one else in the world who would have taken the time to talk to each of these callers." In 1962, in a brochure titled "Hurricane Precautions," Mr. Stump gave this excellent advice: "Be calm. Your ability to meet emergencies will inspire and help others." (26)

" **Every Year, For the Past 13 Years, Since the Day You Started Kindergarten I've Gotten Every Teacher, Coach, and Principal to Write a Little Something About You Inside This Book"**

When Brenna Martin graduated from North Johnston High in North Carolina on 8 June 2012, her parents, Bryan and Evelynn Martin, gave her a graduation gift that cost less than $20, but was 13 years in the making. Brenna wrote in her blog, "I graduated High School this week. When my Dad said he had a present for me, I thought I was getting some cheesy graduation card. But what I received was something truly priceless. Following the ceremony he handed me a bag with a copy of 'Oh the Places You'll Go,' by Doctor Seuss inside. At first I just smiled and said that it meant a lot and that I loved that book. But then he told me 'No, open it up.'... On the first page I see a short paragraph written by none other than my kindergarten teacher. I start tearing up but I'm still confused. He tells me, 'Every year, for the past 13 years, since the day you started kindergarten I've gotten every teacher, coach, and principal to write a little something about you inside this book.' He managed to keep this book a secret for 13 years, and apparently everyone else in my life knew about it! Yes the intended effect occurred.... I burst out in tears. Sitting there reading through this book there are encouraging and sweet words from every teacher I love and remember through my years in this small town. My early teachers mention my 'Pigtails and giggles,' while my high school teachers mention my 'Wit and sharp thinking.' But they all mention my humor and love for life. It is astounding to receive something this moving, touching, nostalgic, and thoughtful. I can't express how much I love my Dad for this labor of love." In the book, Brenna's middle school track coach wrote, "Brenna, never stop running in the race of life regardless of the obstacles you face. Continue to be that dedicated person that you are and you will succeed. It was great coaching you, Coach Baker.'' Brenna wrote about the gift on Reddit, where it quickly attracted attention. Her father joined the conversation and posted on Reddit: "I cannot believe Brenna posted this... she has always been the light of my life. Doing this was just a small way of letting her know." (27)

" **The Dalai Lama Wouldn't Do That!"**

In 2006, first-grade teacher Ellen Casey taught her young students at Steele Elementary in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about winners of the Nobel Peace Prize and what they were like as children. Guess what? The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, was naughty when he was a child, but he also did good deeds. He used to fight with his brother, and he sometimes disobeyed the monks who were taking care of him. In class, Ms. Casey asked her students, "Do you have to be a perfect child to make a difference?" They replied, "No." During an interview with Andrea Brown of the _Colorado Springs Gazette_ , Ms. Casey said, "I want peace to be a way of life for children. It's the regular people who make a difference. Change starts in the home. It is not done globally; it is done locally. You can't stop the war in Iraq, but you can make peace on the playground. You can't find Osama bin Laden, but you can calm down a friend who is angry." She teaches her students about many Nobel Peace Prize laureates, but she always begins by teaching the children about the Dalai Lama. First-grader Noah Kiemel said, "There were these boys picking up dirt and throwing it at this little boy. The Dalai Lama was only three and he stood next to him and the other kids dropped the dirt and walked away." Carmen Bachofen, age seven, said, "I can't believe how little of a kid can do that." The students learn from the lessons. Ms. Casey said, "I hear them on the playground saying, 'The Dalai Lama wouldn't do that!'" (28)

I Wish I had That Kind of Money

In 1906, wealthy philanthropist Andrew Carnegie gave $400,000 to Princeton University for the purpose of digging a three-and-a-half-mile-long lake so that students could row boats on campus. (29)

High School Students Show Appreciation

In China Rae Newman's speech delivered at the commencement ceremony of Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona, she remembered a good deed performed by then-Principal Anne-Marie Woolsey: "When I think of Dr. Woolsey, I don't think of Arcadia's awards and successes. I think back to the first day of school four years ago. I was one terrified freshman among 500 others, lost in the giant world of high school. I was late for orientation and in a dead panic as I tried to open my uncooperative locker. Just as I was beginning to lose all hope, an energetic, peppy woman with unbelievable hair and a bright smile offered to help me with the stubborn lock. Dr. Woolsey, I doubt you remember this little encounter almost four years ago, but knowing that you cared about me, one student in 1,600, helped me to realize that maybe high school wasn't going to be so bad." And Kyle Beeks, valedictorian of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona, spoke of his appreciation of a particularly demanding teacher and a particularly difficult course: "I was a bit worried about AP [Advanced Placement] U.S. history. I'm not a big fan of classes like history. Give me numbers and formulas and equations, but not another 30-page reading assignment. I had heard stories about the teacher, how hard he graded and how no one got an A in his class. I tackled the summer assignment and thought surely it would be rewarded with a high grade. I got to say hello to a low C. This was followed with a string of failing grades on several quizzes. I had two choices: drop the class or figure out how to turn the bus around; quit or persevere and work harder to shore up my weaknesses. I chose the latter. Meeting that teacher's lofty expectations better prepared me for the greater demands of a college classroom. Along the way I developed a fondness and greater appreciation for history. And by working the hardest in my high school career, I earned an A in a class where supposedly no one gets an A. And here I stand." (30)

" **We Will Always / Remember Your Love"**

On 8 July 2002, Eileen, the wife of criminal defense attorney Joe Ingber, died of ovarian cancer. Since then, he has been placing small classified ads in the _Los Angeles Times_ on her birthday and on the anniversary of the death. It is his way of paying tribute to his late wife and of letting it be known publicly that "the feelings are still there." This is the July 2012 ad: "Nov. 3, 1933 — July 8, 2002 / Ten Years — We Will Always / Remember Your Love / Joe — Stacy — And Marco." Stacy is the couple's daughter, and Marco is the couple's granddaughter. Mr. Ingber met his wife through his work as a lawyer. Someone had driven through a red light and hit her car. Mr. Ingber followed professional ethics and did not ask her out until after she ceased to be a client. As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Ingber represented Stanley "Tookie" Williams, one of the early leaders of the gang known the Crips. In 2005, Tookie was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection at San Quentin. As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Ingber represented clients who were sometimes despised by the public, but he firmly believed and believes that anyone accused of a crime, no matter how heinous, must have a fair and professional defense, in order for the criminal justice system to have integrity. (31)

Every Little Girl Needs a Toaster

Alice Camille, who has spent most of her life doing mission work, is known as "Silly Aunt Alice" because of her strange sense of humor. She became Silly Aunt Alice early, when her nieces Megan, Amanda, and Mary were five years old, three years old, and in the crib, respectively. When she was within earshot of her young nieces, she would say something silly to her sister, such as, "Of course, we will be having _dragons_ with our dinner?" This would shock Amanda, but not Megan, whom Alice describes as being "hip to the whole concept of irony well before she entered kindergarten." Megan would say, "With lemon sauce, I hope!" One Christmas, Megan picked up a wrapped present, and Silly Aunt Alice said, "That should be the toaster. It looks about the right size." Megan said, "Of course! Just what I wanted—a toaster!" Amanda was doubtful that a toaster was a suitable gift: "But little girls don't want toasters." The toaster joke continued for a few years, and when a suitably sized gift was about to be unwrapped, someone would say, "Could this _finally_ be the toaster?" Megan would say, "If _only_ someone, someday, would give me my own toaster!" Amanda was annoyed by the joke, especially when baby Mary would say, "Silly Aunt Alice, are you gonna get a toaster this year?" Silly Aunt Alice always replied, "I certainly hope so." Eventually, Amanda was old enough to joke with the others. Before Christmas, silly Aunt Alice winked at Amanda and said, "Maybe I'll finally get the toaster this year." Amanda replied, "Maybe you will." When Christmas arrived, Silly Aunt Alice picked up Amanda's present to her and said, "I suppose this is my toaster." Amanda replied, "You never know." Then Silly Aunt Alice unwrapped the gift: It was a toaster. Silly Aunt Alice says, "But to say it was a toaster is like calling the Garden of Eden a nice lawn." Ten-year-old Amanda had made the toaster from a corrugated cardboard box and two Popsicle sticks. The box is painted silver and has two wide slots in the top. The two pieces of toast are made from two pieces of cardboard and are daubed white. When a Popsicle stick lever is pressed down and then released, the toast springs into the air. After Silly Aunt Alice opened the gift containing the toaster, her sister snapped a photograph of her giddy with delight and hugging Amanda. Silly Aunt Alice says, "Today the toaster sits on my desk at work. Whenever I am tempted to take things too seriously, I merely push down on the Popsicle lever and watch the white cardboard toast flip up and sail through the air. Perhaps I had it backward all those years. What every _grownup_ needs is her own toaster." (32)

" **Trader Joe's Did Something Awesome!"**

In 2010, a Reddit user who posts using the name "Kibitzor" told about an especially good deed that Trader Joe's did for Kibitzor's grandfather, who was age 89 and who lived alone in an apartment. He didn't keep much food in the house because almost always he could simply leave the apartment and buy food, but one day he got snowed in. He told Kibitzor's mother that a day without food would not hurt him, but she was upset and telephoned a number of places to see if they would deliver food to him. Kibitzor wrote, "She eventually ended up asking if Trader Joe's did delivery, and they told her they could in this instance. She read out a big order and then proceeded to ask them how she should pay. They told [her] there was no need to pay and said, 'Merry Christmas!' Trader Joe's doesn't do delivery, nor give food out for free normally. I'm glad to see people out in the world care about strangers and help out. [...] Follow-up: They delivered the food within 30 minutes, and further clarification from my mom reveals that when she was ordering food, they kept suggesting other items for him (he's on a low sodium diet). He ended up getting a few days worth of food from them. In case people are wondering, it's the Trader Joe's in Wayne, PA. The funniest part is now my grandpa is trying to leave his apartment in the snow to thank them, but I think we've stopped him." The comments on this story reveal other good deeds done by Trader Joe's employees. Elendae wrote, "Not nearly as heartwarming, but when I was recovering from knee surgery, the cashier at Trader Joe's gave me a bouquet of 'get well' flowers, after asking why I was on crutches and insisted on having someone carry my bags to my car." And 1000Steps wrote, "My girlfriend had a bad day once (valet wrecked her car), and she was stressed and had been crying. They gave her a bouquet as well. Such a good company." (33)

Free Food

The most memorable Christmas of Vincent Sardi, Sr., occurred in 1929, soon after the stock market crash. Mr. Sardi owned Sardi's, the New York restaurant where people in the theater ate, and he sent an ad to some of his regular customers. Artist Alex Gard created caricatures of Mr. Saudi and his wife—Mr. Sardi was Santa Claus, and about 350 of the caricatures were sent out with this message: "We are having a special Christmas dinner. Won't you join us?" At least Mr. and Mrs. Saudi thought it was an ad. Quickly, they discovered that the people who were packing his restaurant thought that they were the Sardis' guests. Realizing that the "ad" was ambiguous, Mr. and Mrs. Sardi did the ethical and generous (and expensive) thing and let everybody eat free. And they ate well. Mr. Sardi said, "So we had the waiters bring out the food—in those homey days each table of six or more was served an individual turkey which they could carve themselves—and no diner was asked to pay a cent. Not even in stage money." (34)

" **You're a Hero, Buddy"**

Just before Christmas of 2011, Bradley Mitchell, age 10, saved his mother's life following a crash in the family's SUV. Bradley helped his brother and sister out of the wreckage and then checked his mother, who was lying unconscious in the road. She wasn't breathing, so he gave her CPR. He said, "I went over and gave her a few breaths. It just came naturally. I've seen it on TV a couple times." His mother, Amanda Mitchell, had suffered severe internal injuries and had broken her neck, pelvis, and some ribs. Ms. Mitchell said about Bradley, "Without him I wouldn't be here, and I'll never forget that." In June 2012 at Bradley's grandmother's house in Mesa, Arizona, firefighters honored Bradley with a certificate and his own firefighter helmet. A firefighter told him, "You're a hero, buddy. For anyone to do what you did would really be something, but for a 10-year-old? It's just remarkable." (35)

Free Music

In 1943, Johnny Carson was in the Navy, and he had just finished boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Base. It was Christmas, and he was feeling sorry for himself because he was not at home, although later he realized that he had it much better than the servicemen who were actively fighting the war. At least he was in a safe area. He did what many servicemen in such circumstances do. He went to the Chicago USO and met some friends. They decided to have a good time although they were away from home on Christmas, and they did have a good time enjoying each other's company. At midnight, they got a special surprise: A big-time musical group paid a surprise visit to the USO. Mr. Carson said, "They gave us a good two hours of songs and instrumentals. We would have welcomed anything, but this trio was fantastic—one of the best I've ever heard. They were known as the King Cole Trio, Nat "King" Cole, of course, the head man." (36)

The Best-Ever Christmas Gift

Carol DeChant's most memorable Christmas gift ever was a Brownie camera from her Aunt Harriett, aka Big Harriett. Carol was eight years old when she got the camera, and at the time a camera was usually a gift for people much older than eight. Carol became the chronicler of family occasions and in junior high she thought about becoming a professional photographer. As part of an assignment to write a career book, she interviewed George Yates, the head of photography at the _Des Moines Register_ and _Tribune_ newspapers. He was a Brit who had learned photography during World War I as a member of the Royal Air Force. He had triumphed as a news photographer by disguising himself as a choir member and sneaking a camera into Westminster Abbey and taking photographs of the coronation of King George VI. Mr. Yates took Carol seriously and gave her real information. She remembers, "He said that he hired 'B' students, because 'A' students were conformists who lack the daring that photography often calls for." (Note by David Bruce: Sometimes, "A" students are all right. I want my doctor to get an "A" in everything.) When Carol was a junior at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, she took a photojournalism course that he was teaching. It was a night class, and the students were given an assignment that they picked out of a hat and that they had to complete in two hours. One week Carol and her partner had the assignment "Illustrate the weather." It was a perfect spring night, and they took photographs of the Des Moines Bruins playing a minor-league baseball game under the lights—an excellent illustration of a perfect spring night. Carol and her partner handed in their film, and Carol hoped for a perfect grade of "B." (37)

" **He was There by the Grace of God.... It's Pretty Much a Christmas Miracle"**

On 17 December 2009 in Wasilla, Alaska, 83-year-old Joyce Peldo, who suffers from Alzheimer's, tried to take a walk in a snowstorm and nearly died. She was wearing only a light jacket, a nightgown, and slippers, and she was carrying a purse. She wandered in some woods and fell down about a half-mile from her home in a spot that could not be easily seen from the road. Early that morning, Phillip Allison started his commute to Anchorage to work at his job at Hope Community Resources. He was in a hurry, so he didn't brush off his headlights. But because of the dark and the snow, visibility was poor, and he stopped his commute so he could brush off his headlights. When he did, he heard—faintly—Ms. Peldo say, "Help me." He walked toward the sound and heard it again, and using a flashlight, he saw a hand about 50 feet from the road. He found Ms. Peldo. She was not able to tell him her name. He picked her up, carried her to his pickup, and rushed her to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska. Troopers met him there and found her son's name in her purse. Her son, Steve Peldo, arrived, and she asked him, "How'd you find me?" Mr. Allison said, "I felt like I was led to pull over right there, and to even be able to hear her. I'm just grateful she was alive." Steve Peldo said, "I don't know this man from Adam. He was there by the grace of God.... It's pretty much a Christmas miracle." As a thank-you gift, Mr. Peldo gave Mr. Allison a 25-pound smoked ham. Joyce Peldo's doctor examined her, and except for her Alzheimer's, she is in good health. (38)

" **When Someone Rises to Self-Sacrifice in Defiance of His Own Society, Risking Himself Socially as Well as Materially and Physically, That is an Even Higher Degree of Heroism"**

During World War II, Paul Grueninger was a police chief in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. In 1938, Switzerland closed its borders to refugees, of which there were many due to Adolf Hitler's annexation of Austria. Despite being ordered not to allow refugees into Switzerland, Mr. Grueninger backdated the papers of more than 3,000 Jewish refugees and allowed them to enter Switzerland, thus saving their lives. The backdating of their papers made it appear that they had entered Switzerland before its borders were closed. He suffered for his compassion and heroism. He was fired from his job, and he lost his salary and pension. In addition, he was convicted of criminal fraud because he had backdated records and falsified papers (yes, he had done those things—in order to save people's lives) and spent time in prison. After being released from prison, he found it difficult to get work, and in 1972 he died in poverty. His daughter worked hard to get his heroism recognized, and finally—in 1995—she succeeded. In that year, a St. Gallen's district court exonerated Grueninger of criminal fraud. In April 2004, syndicated columnist Dr. Renee Garfinkel wrote in an opinion piece about Mr. Grueninger for UPI: "Ever since the time of cave paintings, in folklore and in myth, heroes have been recognized and honored by their society. The society shares the hero's values. For example, we all recognize that a firefighter who goes back into a burning building to save a life has the courage to act on a value deeply shared by the rest of us. That is heroism: having the courage to do what we all know is right. However, when someone rises to self-sacrifice in defiance of his own society, risking himself socially as well as materially and physically, that is an even higher degree of heroism. That kind of hero inspires the rest of us by demonstrating the strength of character and potential for good that is inherent in our species. Our potential for goodness knows no bounds." (39)

" **As Moslems, We Believe that Water is a Gift from God and as Such We Freely Share It With Others"**

In Harare, Zimbabwe's largest city, water can be scarce. A 2 June 2012 article in _The Standard_ (Zmibabwe) by Jennifer Dube explained that because of the scarcity of water in the suburb Mabvuku's Hanyani, Matongo, and Churuwa areas, some people with water from boreholes have started selling the water. Other people, however, give away the water for free. Some Good Samaritans have even installed water taps outside their security walls so that people who need water can take water whenever they want it. Some of these Good Samaritans even wrote signs saying "borehole water, help yourself." Moslems of Indian origin have been especially generous with the borehole water. A man who did not wish to be named said, "As Moslems, we believe that water is a gift from God and as such we freely share it with others. We cannot ask anyone to pay for something we get from the ground for free." The government has been unable to supply water to the residents. Many people from Warren Park, Westlea, Kambuzuma, and Kuwadzana suburbs have been going to Belvedere to get free water from boreholes. A Belvedere man said, "I have been living in this neighbourhood for six months now, and I found the people I live with fetching water from boreholes outside fellow residents' yards because the tap rarely has water." Sometimes, more than the water from a Good Samaritan's borehole is needed. Arnold Banda said, "We rarely have water in this part of Mabvuku and also in Hwenga, Save, and Kariana. There is one borehole in our area, and even if you wake up at 2 a.m., you will find a long winding queue [line] such that you may spend half of the day waiting for your turn to fetch water. Some of us end up buying water from those with wells and boreholes." Mutsa Mangwiro said, "Look around you and see the many people, especially teenagers and senior citizens, walking around with dirty clothes on. It is no longer surprising to see someone with clothes as dirty as those of small boys in rural areas because of lack of access to clean water." (40)

" **Thanks From the Bottom of My Heart for Helping Improve the Quality of My Life One Spoonful at a Time"**

Kailyn Pieper, age 11 in 2012, was born seven weeks premature and with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare congenital disorder that affected the development of her joints and limited the use of her hands and arms. With the help of several operations, she is able to use her feet and legs well. In fact, she plays video games, does homework, and turns pages with her talented toes. She uses her feet to play with Barbies. She has a hook on her dresser drawer that she uses to pull her shirt over her head and take it off. She can also put on the shirt. At school, she fits in well, but she is self-conscious enough not to want to feed herself by using her toes to hold a fork or spoon. For one thing, she would have to sit on the floor. Enter six Marquette University engineering students: Lauren Eno, Laura Finn, Robert Herlache, Cathryn Krier, Kristina Lee, and Michael Ventimiglia. The four women and two men make up Engineering Team B18. Between the ages of 20 and 22, they needed an engineering project to complete for a class. Kailyn needed a feeding device that she could carry in her backpack and use at school. That way, she would not have to lower her face to her plate to eat. The engineering students worked with Kailyn, and they got help from two students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design: Sean Simmons and Brett Pearson. The engineering students concentrated on functionality; the design students concentrated on beauty. Project Kailyn is a success. The feeding device is small, white, and not heavy, it is elegant, and it works with yogurt, strawberries, celery, soup, pizza, and other foods. Kailyn can carry it in her backpack. To take the device out and set it up takes Kailyn 1 minute and 45 seconds. To turn off the machine and put it in her backpack takes just under one minute. And Kaitlyn can use it to feed herself. Asked to rate the feeding device from one to 10, she gives it 100. Similar devices are on the market, but they cost up to $3,000. The materials for Kailyn's device cost $203.88. Kailyn gave the eight students who created the feeding device a gift: each received a framed copy of a drawing she made of some of her favorite things. Her favorite things include Barbie, _The Hunger Games_ , love (represented by a heart), and music (represented by a musical note). Below the drawing is this note from Kailyn: "These are things that make me happy, and you're one of those things... Thanks from the bottom of my heart for helping improve the quality of my life one spoonful at a time. Love, Kailyn Pieper." (41)

Dr. John Harvey: Pediatrician and Good Samaritan

On 15 May 2011, Roberta Fuata, age 13, was admitted to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) in Suva, Fiji. She had been cooking on a kerosene stove without her mother's permission. The flames contacted cooking oil, which exploded. Roberta was badly burned, and doctors gave her only a 35 percent chance of survival. Dr. John Harvey, from Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney, Australia, flew to Fiji at his own expense, and in July he operated on Roberta—free. He wants to help her to live life normally again. Dr. Harvey, a pediatrician who specializes in children's burns, said, "I was only supposed to send some burn-dressing equipment, but I decided to come and help Roberta. Even though the operation was challenging, we managed to complete it on time because it was a team effort from the local doctors. It was a difficult situation because the burns were serious, but with the great teamwork, there will be a high chance of full recovery." He added, "I only came here for Roberta, but now I am helping other children whose burns needs special attention." Health Ministry spokesman Peni Namotu said, "It would cost $150,000 to send her overseas, but luckily we have a doctor [Dr. Harvey] to treat her here. The treatment is free, and we are grateful for this generous offer." Roberto's mother, Misiini Fuata, said, "I am very happy because my daughter is slowly recovering, and I thank Dr. Harvey for considering our plea for help. We don't have to fork out a substantial amount of money for the cost of her operation overseas." She added, "I am indeed grateful to the Ministry of Health for helping us." Roberta's brothers donated skin for much-needed grafts. A July 2011 article about Roberta that was published in the _Fiji Sun_ was titled "First for Fiji, Fuata smiles again." (42)

An Anonymous Good Samaritan

On 22 December 2009, an elderly gentleman fell in West Malling, Kent, England. Paul Barratt, head of South East Coast Ambulance Service's head of non-emergency services, was so impressed by an act of kindness shown to the elderly gentleman that he wrote this letter to the editor of the _Kent Messenger_ : "I wanted to bring to your attention an outstanding act of human kindness. While responding to emergency calls for the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust on Tuesday, December 22, I attended an elderly gentleman who had fallen in West Malling High Street. It was obviously an extremely cold day, and various people from neighbouring houses and the nearby Tesco store assisted me with coats and blankets to keep the patient warm before an ambulance and my colleagues arrived to assist in moving the gentleman. The unsung hero that I would like to bring to your attention was a young man of slim build, approximately 6ft 2ins, possibly in his late teens or early twenties. Without thought for his own care, he took off his coat and gave it to me to put over this gentleman. He was only dressed himself in light clothing, and he left me with his coat while he went to have his hair cut. This young man had no idea who the patient was or in fact whether he would ever see his coat again and went on his way. I was very sorry that I did not get this remarkable young man's name but was staggered by his act of generosity for a complete stranger. I hope you will be able to carry this letter in the event that this good Samaritan gets to read it and receives the praise that he duly deserves." (43)

Playing the Lottery So He Can Help a Friend

In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mustafa Beeroli, age 53, who is from Kerala, India, is a friend to Naushad, age 35, who is also from Kerala, India. In June 2008, Naushad had a medical problem and medical bills, and Mustafa wanted to help him. Mustafa said, "I was sad at his [Naushad's] plight and promised to help him out with the help of some friends. A couple of days later on my way to work, I came across a large billboard that featured an advertisement on Postcard Millionaire. I decided to get a pack and hoped that I would win. This was the fastest manner in which I could help out Naushad." Three days later, he discovered that he had won a million dirhams. He said, "I did not waste a single moment and telephoned Naushad asking him not to worry and that I have enough money to pay off his entire debt of Indian rupees 63,000 [5,433 dirhams]." Mustafa had learned about Naushad through a mutual friend. Mustafa said, "There was a considerable swelling on his [Naushad's] left thigh. During the course of our conversation, I learnt that Naushad is from my hometown Kunjipalli in the south Indian state of Kerala and he penned religious songs. I learnt that his father, who was a fisherman, had died of cancer without getting treatment as they were unable to afford it." Naushad walked with a limp and worked as a part-time laborer. Mustafa said, "He came to the UAE [United Arab Emirates] with the help of his brother and worked in a hotel as a waiter, but after a few months he developed a vein problem on his thigh. The treatment here turned out to be costly and so his elder brother decided to send him back to Kerala and get Naushad some medical attention." Naushad took a bank loan so he could pay his hospital bills. He returned to Dubai to work and continued to have a problem with his thigh. That is when Mustafa learned about him and helped him. Mustafa, who still has much money left after helping his friend, said, "I shall utilize the remaining money to sort [out] some personal needs. But I have planned [to donate the] majority of it for various charitable causes." (44)

" **People were Making Fun. They Did Not Believe that a Rickshaw Puller Could Start a Clinic. Even Doctors were Not Willing to Come to This Centre"**

Joynal Abedin remembers when his father died about 30 years ago because of a lack of medical facilities in their village of Tanashadia in Bangladesh. Because of this, Mr. Abedin vowed to start a medical clinic in his village. He and his wife, Lal Banu, moved to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and he became a rickshaw puller, moving passengers and baggage from one part of the city to another. His wife worked as an assistant in a local clinic. Mr. Abedin said, "When I landed in Dhaka, it was a new experience for us. We were amazed by the size and energy of the city. Initially, we were not sure how we could survive there." Mr. Abedin opened a bank account and started putting money into it so that one day he could open the medical clinic. He kept this bank account a secret from his wife. He said, "Sometimes my wife used to argue with me for not bringing enough money to run the family. But I always saved some money. Even during difficult times, I never touched my savings." He saved over $4,000, and because his health was growing poorer and pulling the rickshaw was hard work, he moved back to his village, where he bought a small plot of land for himself and a tin-roof house for him and his family to live in and a shed to serve as a medical clinic. He also bought tables and beds to put in the clinic. Mr. Abedin said that at first, "People were making fun. They did not believe that a rickshaw puller could start a clinic. Even doctors were not willing to come to this centre." He did get a paramedic to give first aid to the villagers. In 2012, a paramedic treated around 100 patients daily at the clinic, and a doctor made weekly visits. People with serious problems are told to go to a hospital in the town of Mymensingh. The medical center also has a basic pharmacy, and on Mr. Abedin's land is also a coaching center for primary school students. Now, people support the medical center. Abdul Malik, a farmer living in a nearby village, said, "This hospital helps poor people like us in this area. The government hospital is far away, and I cannot afford private clinics. So, I come here whenever I require treatment and it's free." Lokman Hossain Miah, a senior government official in the Mymensingh district, said, "Though it is not a proper hospital, Mr. Abedin's clinic offers vital support to the villagers. He has become a role model in our country. We have given free books to the students there and are also trying to arrange donations from individuals for the clinic." Mr. Abedin said, "Previously, when I was a rickshaw puller, people used to ignore me and I faced lots of abuse. Now people are showing respect, they are inviting me to their houses to have tea with them. This would have never happened if I had been a normal rickshaw puller. My dream is to convert this clinic into a full-fledged hospital with the help of the government and other donors." (45)

" **We Don't Take Anything with Us When We Pass on One Day, So Why Not Help the Needy If We are Capable of Doing So?"**

A group of Good Samaritans who believe the Chinese proverb "Give back to society what you have taken from it" donated four dialysis machines to SSL Haemodialysis Welfare Foundation in Malaysia. Wee Hen Cheng and his wife, Wong Yoon Mei, were two of the Good Samaritans. Wee said, "We don't take anything with us when we pass on one day, so why not help the needy if we are capable of doing so?" Another couple, Lim Loke Choy and Chong Poh Ken, was also among the Good Samaritans. Chong said, "This contribution is a way to give back to the community." Foundation vice-president Wong Peng Wah said, "The machines are suitable for young patients and those who face dialysis complications. Young patients often need to work after the treatment to support their families. This machine will relieve the post-treatment exhaustion." Each machine can care for six patients weekly. (46)

" **Many People Came to Our Aid"**

Ana Samways writes an entertaining, almost-daily humorous column titled _Sideswipe_ for the _New Zealand Herald_. Her column is a collection of funny photos, anecdotes, and stories of good deeds, including this one that was sent in by Anna: "My partner and I went away for a quiet weekend to Waihi Beach. We booked dinner at The Porch and each received a superb dinner. Not long into the meal, my partner had a coughing fit, which caused him to fall unconscious and out of his chair. Many people came to our aid. In particular, there was a fantastic couple—I believe from Rotorua—who took control while the staff phoned for an ambulance. In the turmoil I never got their names. They even offered to drive me through to Tauranga Hospital, where the ambulance was heading. The manager and staff were also amazing and offered to redo our meals, and we were charged only for the wine. I am hoping all these people who helped us out will read this and accept our thanks." (47)

Koala Bears and Australia

Eric Feldt, 10 years old, of Surprise, Arizona, got a surprise when he returned after a week at Camp Sunrise, a camp run by the American Cancer Society. The non-profit organization A Hand of Hope had completely redone his bedroom to reflect his interest in Australia. It now had cargo crates from Australia, eucalyptus trees, and places where he could hang his stuffed koala bears. Garrett and Pam Walker are the Glendale artists who volunteered to redo Eric's room. Pam said about many of the children served by A Hand of Hope, "These kids are so sick they just need a haven. A lot of them spend a lot of downtime—they can't be exposed to germs or can't go to the store. We wanted to give them a place they didn't want to leave." Everything in Eric's room now reflects his fascination with Australia. Pam said, "Now his parents will never be able to get him out." A Hand of Hope grants more than one wish to seriously ill children. Eric's mother, Cathy, said, "Eric's gotten to meet Jeff Gordon, Tony Hawk, Randy Johnson, Toby Keith. He's gone to dozens of baseball games, the zoo, the movies. Every month, he has something to look forward to." Garrett's employer, Target, donated the materials for the room makeover. Pam said, "When he [Garrett] told them what we were doing, they gave us a huge gift card to see that we had everything we needed for Eric's room." Although Eric has been cancer-free for 18 months, his parents still worry. Cathy said, "You never stop worrying. It's always there in the back of your mind. Every bruise he gets, every ache he tells us about, you wonder: Is this something new?" (48)

Politicians are In a Position Where They Can Help—or Hurt—Millions of People

Sister Simone Campbell is a Catholic nun, an attorney, and the executive director of NETWORK, a group of sisters who want economic and social justice. In June 2012, she and a few other sisters engaged in a 14-day "Nuns on the Bus" tour that reached nine cities across the United States. The sisters are aware of the importance of politics, and they are aware that a bad American budget can hurt impoverished people. In particular, they are aware that the budget proposed by United States Representative Paul Ryan, a Republican, would hurt impoverished people. In writing about Sister Simone Campbell, syndicated columnist Connie Schultz mentioned three things that the sister pointed out the Ryan budget would do: 1) "Raise taxes on 18 million hardworking low-income families while cutting taxes for millionaires and big corporations." 2) "Push the families of 2 million children into poverty." 3) "Kick 8 million people off food stamps and 30 million off health care." Many Good Samaritans can help only a few people, but politicians are in a position where they can help—or hurt—millions of people. For example, Obamacare brought health insurance to millions of people. (49)

**A Concern for** **Men's Reproductive Health**

For years, male legislators have sought to regulate women's rights to legal abortion and legal access to contraception. For example, House Bill 125, also known as the "Heartbeat bill," which was sponsored by a male legislator named Lynn Wachtmann, a Republican from Napoleon, Ohio, would ban abortion if the fetus has a heartbeat, something that can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Female lawmakers have started a trend of sponsoring bills that would regulate men's reproductive health the way that male lawmakers have introduced bills that regulate women's reproductive health. In March 2012, Cleveland Democrat and Ohio State Senator Nina Turner sought to regulate men's access to Viagra and similar drugs. According to Jackie Borchardt's _Dayton Daily News_ article "Bill introduced to regulate men's reproductive health," "Before getting a prescription for Viagra or other erectile dysfunction drugs, men would have to see a sex therapist, receive a cardiac stress test and get a notarized affidavit signed by a sexual partner affirming impotency, if state Sen. Nina Turner has her way." In addition, the article stated, "Under Senate Bill 307, men taking the drugs would continue to be tested for heart problems, receive counseling about possible side effects and receive information about 'pursuing celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.'" Ms. Turner stated, "Even the FDA recommends that doctors make sure that assessments are taken that target the nature of the symptoms, whether it's physical or psychological. I certainly want to stand up for men's health and take this seriously and legislate it the same way mostly men say they want to legislate a woman's womb." (50)
CHAPTER 2: STORIES 51-100

The Snatchel Project, and More

A humorous way of protesting male politicians' obsession with the reproductive rights of women—an obsession that leads to male politicians restricting women's access to abortion and birth control—is the Snatchel Project. In this humorous form of activism, women knit a uterus or VJJ (vagina)—the Snatchel Project Web site has patterns—and then send it to a male politician who is against reproductive rights for women. The message is this: "Hands off my uterus [or vagina]! Here's one of your own!" The Snatchel Project does tell women, "Don't forget to thank your representative if he respects women and supports our rights." Another memorable protest against politicians' efforts to deny women their reproductive rights was the sex strike of 2012. A poster showed a woman's legs with the message "ACCESS DENIED" across the tops of her thighs. The poster bore the message "If our reproductive choices are denied, so are yours." It also bore the information "SEX STRIKE" and "April 28-May 5, 2012." The No Access Sex Strike for Women's Rights Web site urged supporters to "make the pledge to cross your legs April 28-May 5, 2012. Use the extra time to write your elected officials and demand respect for women's rights and bodies. Register to vote, and in November, vote these overstepping, woman-hating, hypocritical windbags out!" Such sex strikes work in real life as well as in Aristophanes' comic play _Lysistrata_. In 2011, the women of Barbacoas, Colombia, had a "crossed legs" movement in which they refrained from having sex until authorities built a safe road to their town. They got the road. (51)

Sarcasm-Bombing

Reproductive health supporters have been sarcasm-bombing the Facebook pages of legislators who do not support their cause. Often, these legislators are men who don't want women to make their own decisions about their own reproductive health. Virginia state Senator (and Republican Caucus Chairman) Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville) introduced a bill that would force women seeking abortions to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound in which a "wand" is inserted into the woman's vagina. Here is one of the sarcastic comments posted onto his Facebook page: "Hello Senator. My daughter is still young, but will one day be a woman, and before I know it she'll be having her 'curse,' if ya know what I mean... it's not easy for kids, especially females, to have to deal with this fact of life. [...] My question to you is, [...] religion aside, what should she expect from a government here in the U.S. that wants to probe her vagina? How do I explain to her the whole 'good touch, bad touch' thing when politicians think it's acceptable to explore vaginas with plastic instruments? Also, is this part of a plan to create jobs somehow?" (52)

" **If God Hates Fags, Why Are We So Cute?"**

Gays tend to be intelligent and witty. Witness the signs at gay rights rallies: 1) "If God Hates Fags, Why Are We So Cute?" 2) "Would You Rather I Marry Your Daughter?" 3) "Married 4 Years—Longer Than Britney Spears." 4) "If Liza Can Marry Two Gay Men, Why Can't I Marry One?" 5) "I Just Want One Marriage (It's Not Like I'm Newt Gingrich or Anything)." Of course, people opposed to homosexuality and same-sex marriage hold their own rallies—as is their right. But gays have a good way of combatting these rallies. For example, an anti-gay protestor held up a sign bearing the slogan "God Hates Fags." Two gay men stood on either side of him. One gay guy wore a T-shirt that displayed the word "He's." The other gay guy wore a T-shirt that displayed the word "Gay." (53)

In Iran, Some Speech Isn't Free

Sometimes, exercising free speech carries the risk of torture and death. On 17 May 2012, the International Day Against Homophobia, a small group of Iranians risked torture and death to protest homophobia. They briefly displayed a rainbow flag, released a group of helium-filled balloons with the colors of the rainbow into the air, and displayed a sign reading "STOP HOMOPHOBIA" in a small park overlooking Tehran. They took photos of the brief demonstration and posted them on the public social media site Joopea. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Golnaz Esfandiari said, "Note that the individuals were sure to hide their faces to avoid being identified and harassed. She called the protest "rare, if not unprecedented," and added, "Many Iranians may not know that the rainbow flag is the symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights movement." Max Fisher, a journalist for _The Atlantic_ , wrote, "It's hard to see much momentum for changing social attitudes toward gay rights in Iran, and even harder to imagine official policy relaxing anytime soon. Maybe that's what makes these half-dozen or so young activists so brave, to take pride in something their society insists is shameful, and to stand up for themselves, even if it means risking everything." Often, the people of a country are better than the government of that country. In the United States, this is the First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (54)

Moving One Billion People Out of Poverty

Dambisa Moyo, African author of the books _Dead Aid_ , _How the West was Lost_ , and _Winner Take All_ , has high praise for China. She sees mainland China as having the goal of moving one billion people out of poverty, and she sees China as succeeding: "What the Chinese are trying to do—move a billion people out of poverty—is just an unheard-of thing in history. The fact that they have moved 300 million in 30 years is unheard of. It took Britain 156 years to double its per capita income. It took America 57 years, Germany 65 years. It's taken the Chinese 12-and-a-half years." In 2012, the Chinese were busily buying natural resources around the world, and Ms. Moyo sees the Chinese as doing that in a respectful manner, providing much-needed infrastructure and jobs and investment in return for such things as mineral rights. According to her, the Chinese treat the countries they buy natural resources from as "valued commercial equals," a phrase that appeared in a _Guardian_ interview with Ms. Moyo by journalist Decca Aitkenhead. (55)

" **Honesty Shouldn't Go Unrewarded"**

In 2012, the National Australia Bank set up a hidden camera to give recognition to honest people. First it set up a lost-and-found booth in a shopping center, and then it planted a pair of sunglasses on the floor. Honest people picked up the sunglasses and then returned them to the lost-and-found booth. A woman asked the honest people for their name and surreptitiously took their photograph, and very quickly the honest people were recognized. As the honest people shop, suddenly their names and faces begin appearing throughout the shopping center: on advertising screens, on a fake TV newscast, on the 'cage screamer' headline of a newsstand, and even on the icing of a cake. The reactions of the honest people and their friends were often funny. One honest woman's friend told her, "You're a star!" The funniest reaction is that of a man named Han who looks at a huge digital billboard displaying his image and the words, "Thanks for your honesty, Hun." Mr. Han says, "Spelled my name wrong." The take-away message of the video put out by the National Australia Bank is this: "Honesty shouldn't go unrewarded." A National Australia Bank web page devoted to "The Honesty Experiment" states, "We've seen so many Australians being honest, we wanted to say thanks in the biggest way possible." (56)

**A Huge** **Bouquet of Lilies and Roses from Zappos**

In 2009, Jules Pieri's mother underwent some medical treatments that left her with feet that are sensitive to pressure. Because of this, she can no longer wear many of the shoes she owns. To get her shoes that she can wear, Jules ordered six pairs of shoes from the online Zappos site. They arrived, and two of the pairs of shoes were suitable for her to wear. She telephoned to find out how to return the other pairs of shoes. She had a nice conversation with the Zappos employee, whose father had similar problems, and who promised to pray for her. The Zappos employee also sent her a huge bouquet of lilies and roses. Jules' sister emailed Zappos to thank them for the bouquet, and Zappos responded by making Jules, his mother, and his sister "Zappos VIP members," which gives them free expedited shipping on every order. Jules' sister plans to buy every pair of shoes from now on from Zappos. Jules writes, "I've read a lot about the Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh's vision for a company full of people who act like individuals, not policy-controlled robots. I've seen their Facebook fan page posts about anything from their dogs to celebrity visits to headquarters. I've seen their employee videos about products in which their natural, unscripted delivery, and totally average looking appearances, make me trust them. But this bouquet of flowers delivered on the vision. It showed me Tony's confidence in his employees and himself, to do the right thing. To be big, while acting small. Wow." (57)

" **Zappos has Earned a Customer for Life"**

In May 2011, a man named Jay wrote _The Consumerist_ about some astounding customer service provided by online shoe-and-clothing store Zappos. Jay was the best man at a wedding, and he ordered his shoes from Zappos. Unfortunately, UPS sent the shoes to the wrong location. The shoes finally arrived at his local service center the night before he was flying to the wedding. Jay called UPS to have the shoes held there so he could pick them up in person and thus be sure of receiving them, but the UPS customer service rep informed him that such an arrangement could not be made by the customer until after the first delivery attempt. However, she did tell Jay that the shipper could make such an arrangement. Jay therefore called Zappos. He writes, "I called Zappos hoping they would be able to make the arrangements for me, and received far more than I wanted or needed. I spoke with Lydia Burrola who listened carefully to my situation, and offered me an even better option than having the package held at UPS. She offered to overnight a replacement pair of shoes to my destination, and intercept the original shipment to be rerouted back to Zappos. No need to go out of my way, Zappos would ensure that I was able to get my shoes on time. But she wasn't done yet. She upgraded my account to 'VIP'—giving me free overnight shipping on all subsequent orders. It was at this point I felt I had to tell her that this level of service was both outstanding, and completely unexpected. But, again, she wasn't finished. On top of completely taking care of my problem and adding the 'VIP' bonus, she then issued a complete refund. Free shoes. Unbelievable. Zappos has earned a customer for life—In addition to all of this, I originally ordered from them because they had the cheapest deal on the shoes I needed. Sincerely, Jay." Ben Popken of _The Consumerist_ wrote, "Zappos gives its customer service reps broad leeway to, at their discretion, make their customers really happy. Looks like it's getting good ROI [Return on Investment]." In a comment on this story, "Wellfleet" wrote, "Zappos also saved my birthday present when my husband ordered shoes that were too narrow. They overnighted a pair of new shoes before my husband ever sent back the ones that were delivered and said they trusted him to send them back promptly. The agent on the phone was nice and even wished me a happy birthday." (58)

A Ritz-Carlton "Wow" Story

The Ritz-Carlton values providing good service to the travelers who stay there, and its employees are trained in part with "wow" stories about particularly good service. For example, a family included a son who had severe allergies and could eat only special foods such as a certain kind of egg and drink only a certain kind of milk. When the family arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, Bali, it was travelling with this kind of food, but the eggs had broken and the milk had gone bad. The Ritz-Carlton manager and dining staff tried but failed to find the necessary food items in town. Fortunately, the executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton, Bali, remembered a store in Singapore that had these items. He called his mother-in-law, who apparently lived in Singapore. She bought the food items and then flew to Bali to deliver them to the Ritz-Carlton. Chances are good that the family continued to stay at the Ritz Carlton, whenever that was possible, in all of its future travels. And at the Ritz-Carleton in Dallas, Texas, a Russian family was having a wedding. The executive chef and specialty chef created an authentic Russian menu, and the bride sampled the dishes and praised them, but the executive chef knew that the bride was not completely satisfied. The executive chef and specialty chef talked to her and learned that her grandmother made all of her favorite Russian dishes. The chefs asked for and received permission to visit her grandmother, who shared her recipes with them. According to "Stories That Stay with You: Memorable Moments from the Ladies & Gentlemen of the Ritz-Carleton," "The two chefs spent an entire day learning all of the grandmother's Russian recipes. The team of three created a Russian feast of Piroshki buns, Olivie salad, and Napoleon cake. When the lesson was complete, the chefs were confident they could now create the perfect Russian menu for the guests' wedding. The guest blogged about her experience saying, 'This is a day I know we will never forget. I want to give a special thank you to The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas for making my wedding planning process such an incredible experience. We appreciate everything you do. Your staff truly goes above and beyond the rest. I cannot wait for the wedding day!'" (59)

" **I've Never been Through a Vacuum-Cleaner Bag. It's Kind of Disgusting. This Raises the Bar"**

A woman named Mrs. Shaw in a Nordstrom's store in South Carolina lost the diamond from her wedding ring. She got on the floor and started searching for it, and when a store security worker found out what she was doing, the security worker helped her look for it. They could not find it, so they got help from two building-services workers, who opened used vacuum cleaner bags and found the diamond. The security worker and the two building-services workers were honored at Nordstrom's annual shareholders meeting in May 2011 in Seattle, Washington. President of Stores Erik Nordstrom said, "I've never been through a vacuum-cleaner bag. It's kind of disgusting. This raises the bar." Nordstrom's is renowned for its excellent customer service and its generous returns policy. According to one story, someone returned a tire to a Nordstrom's store and asked for a refund. Even though Nordstrom's does not sell tires, the customer got a refund. According to Snopes, aka the Urban Legends Reference Pages, this story is an urban legend. However, such urban legends are not told about many, if any, other stores. (60)

10,000 Free Taco Bell Tacos

The town of Bethel, Alaska, has 6,200 people and no Taco Bell. A hoax in June 2012 made its residents think a Taco Bell was going to join its Subway fast-food restaurant, but the hoax was just that: a hoax. One resident had gotten mad at another resident and had posted flyers announcing the arrival of a Taco Bell. The flyers included a telephone number to call to ask about applying for a job there; the telephone number was that of the resident whom another resident was mad at. Fortunately, the story does have a happy ending. Taco Bell management learned about the hoax and the disappointment of Bethel residents when they learned that it was a hoax. Therefore, Taco Bell management decided to make free tacos for everybody in Bethel. On 1 July 2012, the town's residents (and people who lived nearby) ate free Taco Bell tacos. From Anchorage to Bethel, Taco Bell flew 950 pounds of seasoned beef, 500 pounds of reduced-fat sour cream, 300 pounds of tomatoes, 300 pounds of lettuce, and 150 pounds of cheddar cheese: enough to make 10,000 tacos. Taco Bell CEO Greg Creed said, "If we can feed people in Afghanistan and Iraq, we can feed people in Bethel." He declined to say how much money the company was spending to provide free tacos to Bethel. Previously, if anyone in Bethel wanted a Taco Bell taco, he or she had to pay $500 for a round-trip airplane ticket to Anchorage. Bethel employee Sam Blankenship said, "It's kind of an expensive taco." (61)

" **Whatever Horrible Things Happen in War, Nations and People Retain the Ability to Reconcile with Each Other After Wars are Over"**

During 1944 and 1945, Japan sent approximately 9,000 fugo, or fire balloons, drifting across the Pacific Ocean toward the United States. Some of them reached the United States and exploded. The balloons were 33 feet in diameter, and Japanese schoolchildren made them. The balloons were filled with hydrogen gas and carried a 33-pound bomb, incendiary devices, and sand bags. According to an article by Esther Inglis-Arkell published online on the io9 website, "When released they would shoot up to 35,000 feet. They'd leak gas, slowly dropping, until a barometer caused one of the sand bags to drop off into the sea, at which point they'd go up to 35,000 feet again. The balloons could travel on air currents at up to 120 miles per hour, and so, when the last sandbag fell, they descended onto North America. For navigatorless objects, drifting on the wind, a surprising [number] of them made it over the sea." The bombs caused a few fires, but the United States government did not want the bombs to be talked about. No one was killed until 5 May 1945, when a balloon deflated and landed near a church picnic near Bly, Oregon, and someone touched the bomb without knowing that it was a bomb. Five children and one woman were killed. In 1987, some of the Japanese children, now adults, who had built the balloons without fully knowing what they would be used for, sent a letter of apology and 1,000 paper cranes (symbols of peace) to the families of the people who had been killed at the picnic: "We participated in the building of weapons used to kill people without understanding much beyond the knowledge that America was our adversary in a war. To think that the weapons we made took your lives as you were out on a picnic! We were overwhelmed with deep sorrow." Ms. Inglis-Arkell writes, "The letter, sent decades later, is remarkable because it indicates that, whatever horrible things happen in war, nations and people retain the ability to reconcile with each other after wars are over." (62)

Phan This Kim Phuc: "Having Known War, I Now Know the Value of Peace"

In 1972, photographer Nick Ut took a photo of a young, terrified girl running from a village on which a U.S. Air Force plane had dropped napalm. The napalm burned off the girl's clothes, and she suffered third-degree burns over half of her body. Mr. Ut, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the photo, took the young girl to a South Vietnamese hospital, and remarkably, she survived. The photograph is yet another lesson that children suffer in wars, and this lesson is needed yet another time because it is constantly forgotten in between wars. The girl is now grown up, and she is an advocate for peace. Her name is Phan This Kim Phuc, and her husband's name is Toan. In 1982, they defected to Canada when their plane stopped at Gander Airport in Newfoundland on a flight from Cuba to Moscow—a flight that their Communist government had permitted for their honeymoon. After she was burned, she was filled with anger, but the Christian gospel helped her to get rid of the hatred. In a 2007 speech in Deer Creek, Canada, she said, "I learned that forgiveness is far more powerful than any weapon of war. If the little girl in that picture can do it, then you can do it, too. I started the Kim Foundation to help children who are the victims of war. Now I look at that photograph in a very different way. I hope all of you, when you see this picture, won't see a little girl crying in pain and fear, but crying out for peace." She added, "I knew that I had been saved that day because I had a higher purpose in life. Having known suffering and agony, I now know the value of reaching out to help others. Having known war, I now know the value of peace. Having lived with pain, I know the value of love. Having lost everything, I now know the value of cherishing everything I have that's important, and having known hatred, I now know the value and the power of faith and forgiveness." In a brief address given 11 November 1996 (Veterans' Day) at The United States Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C., she said, "As you know, I am the little girl who was running to escape from the napalm fire. I do not want to talk about the war because I cannot change history. I only want you to remember the tragedy of war in order to do things to stop fighting and killing around the world. I have suffered a lot from both physical and emotional pain. Sometimes I thought I could not live, but God saved me and gave me faith and hope. Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I would tell him we cannot change history but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace. I did not think that I could marry nor have any children because of my burns, but now I have a wonderful husband and lovely son and a happy family. Dear friends, I just dream one day people all over the world can live in real peace—no fighting, and no hostility. We should work together to build peace and happiness for all people in all nations." (63)

" **I've Seen a Lot of Grown Men Who Didn't have the Courage and Weren't Able to Handle Themselves Under Fire like She Did"**

On 25 April 2007 in a remote village in eastern Afghanistan, Private First Class Monica Brown, a female medic, aka "Doc," risked her life to save her fellow soldiers. For her heroism, she was awarded the Silver Star, the United States' third-highest combat medal. However, Ms. Brown was removed from the remote camp although she wished to stay there. Lieutenant Martin Robbins, a platoon leader with Charlie Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, said that female medics such as Ms. Brown weren't supposed to go out on combat missions, "but we had to because there was no other medic. By regulations you're not supposed to." However, he said that Mr. Brown "was one of the guys, mixing it up, clearing rooms, doing everything that anybody else was doing." Having a female medic can be important because of cultural sensitiveness. A female medic can search Afghan women as well as provide medical help for them. During this mission in the evening of 25 April 2007, a pressure-plate bomb exploded under a Humvee. Staff Sergeant Jose Santos yelled, "Two-One is hit!" The Humvee's fuel tank and fuel cans exploded in a fireball. Four soldiers crawled from the Humvee, but Specialist Larry Spray's foot was caught and he was unable to escape on his own. Sergeant Zachary Tellier pulled him out. Specialist Stanson Smith was blinded by blood from his forehead, and he was in shock. Ms. Brown and another person dragged him to a ditch. Sergeant Tellier helped Specialist Spray into the ditch. Insurgents had been firing on the troops with machine guns and rifles. Now they began to launch mortars. Ms. Brown shielded Specialist Smith with her body. Lieutenant Robbins said, "I was surprised I didn't get killed, and she'd been over there for 10, 15 minutes longer. There was small arms coming in from two different machine-gun positions, mortars falling... a burning Humvee with 16 mortar rounds in it, chunks of aluminum the size of softballs flying all around. It was about as hairy as it gets." Staff Sergeant Santos drove a pickup over to the wounded to haul them somewhere safe. Ms. Brown and another soldier hoisted Specialist Smith in the truck. She applied pressure to stop the bleeding from Specialist Smith's head. She told Specialist Spray, "Talk to him." She wanted to keep Specialist Smith conscious. They arrived at a safer location, and Ms. Brown bandaged both Specialist Smith and Specialist Spray and gave them IVs. Helicopters arrived. Lieutenant Robbins said that Ms. Brown "never looked around or anything. She was focused on the patients the whole time. She did her job perfectly." Staff Sergeant Aaron Best was Lieutenant Robbins' gunner the day of the attack. He said about Ms. Brown, "I've seen a lot of grown men who didn't have the courage and weren't able to handle themselves under fire like she did. She never missed a beat." (64)

Norman Cyril Jackson: Victoria Cross Winner

On 26 March 1994, Norman Cyril Jackson, British air force officer and winner of the Victoria Cross for his heroism during World War II, died in London, England. Mr. Jackson was trained as a flight engineer and joined his first squadron, No. 106, which was based at Syerston, in Nottinghamshire, England. On a sortie against targets in Schweinfurt, Germany, on 26 April 1944, the Lancaster plane he was in dropped its bombs and headed home. A Focke-Wulf 190 attacked the plane and hit it with cannon fire. The starboard inner engine of the Lancaster caught on fire. Mr. Jackson pushed a button to set off the fire extinguisher, and the flames died down briefly then shot up again. The fire was near some gasoline tanks, and he volunteered to climb out onto the wing with a fire extinguisher and put out the fire. According to Mr. Jackson's obituary that Bill Reid wrote for the _Independent_ , a British newspaper, "Jackson's plan was to don his parachute, pull the ripcord inside the fuselage and have the navigator and bomb-aimer hang on to the cords of the chute and pay them out as he made his way on to the wing. He put on his chute and pulled the ripcord, stuffed a fire extinguisher inside his Mae West [Type B-4 inflatable life preserver], and opened the dinghy escape hatch. The engine was still burning fiercely and Jackson looked for a handhold on the wing and saw the leading edge air intake ahead of him. Flinging himself forward he managed to grip the intake and hold on. He aimed the extinguisher into the engine cowling and the flames began to die down." The Focke-Wulf 190 returned and opened fire again and hit Mr. Jackson in the legs. He slipped backwards and parachuted to earth. The silk of his parachute had holes from the fire, and he hit the ground hard, breaking an ankle. One eye was closed because of burns, and he could not use his hands. When dawn arrived, he crawled to a house in a nearby village and knocked on the door. A man spoke to him in German, and then two women—nurses from the local hospital—cleaned his wounds. Mr. Jackson spent 10 months in a hospital, but his hands still needed treatment. He went to a POW camp that American soldiers liberated in 1945. On 26 October 1945, Mr. Jackson was awarded the Victoria Cross. (65)

" **Since He was Injured, He's been Thankful It Happened to Him and Not Someone Else Who Didn't have the Support"**

On 23 June 2012 in Glastonbury, Connecticut, 23-year-old Manny Jimenez, who was injured as a Marine in a bomb blast on 1 August 2010, losing his left arm, some of the sight in his left eye, and the hearing in his left ear, walked into his new 2,400-square-foot house. John Lord, past president of Glastonbury Rotary Club, said, "We're going to give you a house today. It doesn't happen every day." The non-profit organization Purple Heart Homes coordinated the building of the house by volunteers. The town of Glastonbury sold the land for the house for $1. Mike Lepore, who led a prayer of thanks for soldiers who have sacrificed so much, said, "We pray that this coordinated effort will not be the exception, but the rule in the way that we treat our veterans." U.S. Representative John Larson said, "Today Glastonbury stands tall and proud in its recognition of Manny Jimenez." Mr. Jimenez said, "Once I got hurt, my mom dropped everything and came by my bedside. Now I have the support of the town of Glastonbury." He recovered at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Jahaira Jimenez, his sister, said, "Since he was injured, he's been thankful it happened to him and not someone else who didn't have the support." Mr. Jimenez now competes in triathlons and has the goal of becoming a physical education teacher in Glastonbury. (66)

" **Next Thing I Know the Ammunition in the Back of the Ford Ranger Started Cooking Off, Popping, Exploding and Shooting Out Bits and Pieces"**

On 30 May 2012 a wounded Australian soldier became a hero when he dragged a wounded Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier away from a burning truck filled with ammunition after it hit an improvised explosive device (IED). Private T.J. Findlay, age 21, a father of two from Brisbane, Australia, was patrolling near the truck when the IED exploded. He said, "I just got picked up and thrown back. He saw that the Afghan soldier was trying to crawl out of a window of the truck. Private Findlay said, "You don't really think about it. You know that there's another person and that the car is on fire and you know there's stuff in the back. He was falling in and out of consciousness. Next thing I know the ammunition in the back of the Ford Ranger started cooking off, popping, exploding and shooting out bits and pieces." Private Findlay succeeded in saving the life of the soldier, a man with whom he had shared chai and stories of their young children. He said, "We had been encountering IEDs for the last three days. We had been finding every one of them. That one just caught us. If you're still around to think about it, you know you are OK." Both soldiers are expected to make a full recovery. Private Findlay said, "I wouldn't really label it as a hero act or anything like that. Anyone seeing a car accident on the freeway would have done the same. It's just what you do." Captain Anthony Sayce, the regimental medical officer for the Australian Mentoring Task Force, pointed out that Private Findlay had placed himself in danger to save the life of the Afghan soldier. Captain Sayce stated, "It's definitely a heroic act." (67)

" **All That is Good in a Leader"**

On 19 May 2012, a Kiwi hero of World War I died on a farm outside Dannevirke, New Zealand. Phil Lamason, a New Zealand World War II bomber pilot, saved the lives of over 160 airmen who were imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp. He was one of 168 airmen imprisoned there illegally. As airmen, they should have been Prisoners of War, but because they were arrested in civilian clothing as they sought to escape capture after being shot down behind enemy lines, they were treated as enemy agents or saboteurs. After spending time in Fresnes prison outside Paris, they were put in the concentration camp. Mr. Lamason, the senior officer among the airmen, discovered that the Gestapo had ordered that the airmen be executed. He risked his life to get word to the Luftwaffe, the German air force, that the airmen were at Buchenwald, knowing that the Luftwaffe would have them moved to a POW camp out of the reach of the Gestapo. He succeeded with the help of a Dutchman. Years later, Mr. Lamason said, "I told him just to say we were here and to get us out. He achieved it, but I don't know how. I never inquired, and I didn't want to know. I'd seen how the Germans handled people. If you didn't know something, they couldn't get it out of you." Two of the 168 airmen died in Buchenwald because of illness, but on 19 October 1944, Luftwaffe officers arrived at Buchenwald and demanded that the remaining airmen be released. The Luftwaffe then took the airmen to Sagan, a POW camp. A man in the Royal Air Force wrote that Mr. Lamason "epitomised all that is good in a leader and there is no doubt in my mind that his sustained effort as the front man for our group... was a major contributing factor in us... getting transferred to a recognised POW camp." (68)

" **I Couldn't have Lived with Myself with the Knowledge That I Had Had the Chance of Changing Someone's Life and Turned It Down"**

At age 83, Nicholas Crace, who lives in the village of Overton in Hampshire, England, donated one of his kidneys to be transplanted into the body of a complete stranger. By doing so, he became Great Britain's oldest living kidney donor and Great Britain's oldest "altruistic donor." Mr. Crace said, "I couldn't have lived with myself with the knowledge that I had had the chance of changing someone's life and turned it down." The operation occurred in late April of 2012, and the recipient was a woman in her 60s. Dr. Bryan Becker, a transplant physician in Chicago, Illinois, said, "It's unusual for someone in their 80s to be a living kidney donor. Living donation is rare in the U.S. even for individuals in their 70s." Mr. Crace is very healthy. To ensure that he was a good candidate for donating a kidney, he made 14 trips to a hospital for examinations and tests. The tests showed that he has "Formula One kidneys." Mr. Crace said, "It seems that my filtration rate was 95 milliliters a minute compared with 50 milliliters a minute average for someone my age, and is better than most 40-year-olds." He had some reasons for donating one of his kidneys: "The Practical are the facts that I am fit, have no dependents or responsibilities, am retired, and have plenty of time. The Emotional are that I have led an easy, comfortable, and selfish life, enjoyed excellent health and want to repay some of my good fortune." Another reason is a Romantic one, assumed up in "Ulysses" by the Romantic poet Tennyson: "Death closes all; but something ere the end, / Some work of noble note, may yet be done, / Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods." (69)

A Surfboard with Impressive Bite Marks

In February 2000, while Steve Thomas was surfing near Ceduna, on the Great Australian Bight, a shark attacked his friend Anthony Hayes. Mr. Thomas saw the shark dragging his friend through the water, so he jumped on the shark's back and started hitting it and pulling back its snout and poking at its eyes. Mr. Thomas said, "Afterwards I was really surprised—I was on autopilot. I was yelling and splashing and swearing at the shark, but if you asked me today would I do that again, I'd just laugh and say, 'Never!'" The shark kept attacking as the two men made their way to shore, and Mr. Thomas jammed the side of his surfboard into the shark's mouth. The surfboard now bears impressive bite marks. Mr. Thomas gave his friend first aid and took him to Ceduna, and Mr. Hayes was then taken by ambulance to a hospital. Mr. Thomas, who continued his hobby of surfing, said, "You can't predict where or when a shark attack might happen. But attacks are extremely rare despite the publicity they get. We have to avoid developing a vigilante mentality about sharks." In 2002, the Australian government awarded Mr. Thomas the Star of Courage. (70)

" **It was a Big, Nasty Animal, and I Don't Want to Touch Another One"**

On 1 April 2012, a crocodile attacked Tara Hawkes as she stood in waist-deep water in a freshwater pool in Dugong Bay, in the Kimberley Coast of Australia. Two men saved her life. If not for the heroism of Michael Fletcher and a man known as "Big Al," Ms. Hawkes said she "would not be here now." She nominated Big Al for a Bravery Award; Mr. Fletcher was also nominated. She added, "At this stage, I am just focusing on getting myself physically and mentally back on the road to recovery. I have had several people contact me in regards to the bravery award, and I think that it takes more than a human being to do what [Big Al] did. It's not every day you survive a crocodile attack." As she was standing in the water, a crocodile grabbed her legs and attempted to pull her underwater. One of the heroes pulled the crocodile's jaws open, while the other hero poked its eyes. Mr. Fletcher of Perth, Australia, said about Ms. Hawkes, "She was so brave, so amazing... she's the hero. It was a big, nasty animal, and I don't want to touch another one." (71)

" **It's an Amazing Story. The Dog is a Lifesaver. That's All I Can Say"**

On 24 June 2012 in Marcellus, Michigan, Patricia Drauch's son, 14-month-old son, Stanley, disappeared. She searched for him and found him in the family's swimming pool. She said, "It was scary. His lips were blue. His eyes were rolled back. It was the scariest feeling, and the image stays in your head for a long time." Fortunately, Stanley was not underwater. The family's pet dog, Bear, was using his back to hold Stanley up. Ms. Drauch said, "Bear put his back underneath Stanley's back to keep him from going under any farther." She added that Bear "wouldn't move in the pool. He didn't bark. He didn't move. It was like he was afraid to move at all until I got Stanley up out of the pool, and that's when [Bear] came up out of the pool with me." Stanley's seven-year-old brother, Kyle, said, "Bear was trying to keep Stanley up so he wouldn't die." Ms. Drauch said about Stanley, "He wasn't responding so my mind is going to the worst—that I was too late." Her cell phone wouldn't work when she called 911. She put Stanley in the car and started driving to take him to the Marcellus Fire Department. While driving, she got a signal on her cell phone and successfully called 911. Stanley regained consciousness as she talked to the emergency operator. Kyle said, "On the way, he barfed up a lot of water." She made it to the fire department, and Stanley appeared alert and well. He was checked out at the fire department and then at a Three Rivers hospital and was quickly released. Ms. Drauch said, "I've always told Bear growing up, ever since he was a pup to just watch over his babies. I've always told him that they were his babies." She added, "He has big paws and they [the babies] were little and I didn't want him to step on them, so it paid off teaching him to watch out for them." Cass County Undersheriff Rick Behnke said, "It's an amazing story. The dog is a lifesaver. That's all I can say." Ms. Drauch said, "If Bear wasn't out, I don't think Stanley would have made it. [Bear] proved that he's got enough love for the kids—he's more than just our hunting dog." She advises parents to look after their children continually: "Don't turn your back for a second, even if your child stays away from the pool. There's always that one time that they'll get curious." (72)

Hero Dog

During the summer of 2005, a man survived a house fire in St. Annes, England, because of his pet dog. Both made their way onto the garage roof. Raymond Bird of St. Annes Fire Station said, "This could have been a much more serious incident. The man had no smoke alarm in the house, and it appears he was woken up by his dog. It was only this which enabled him to escape. Another 10 minutes more and this man would have been in hospital, or worse." He added, "The fire was just taking hold downstairs, and there was a lot of smoke. The man had to escape through an upstairs window onto the garage roof. He would not have been able to get out any other way as the smoke was very thick downstairs. He had to wait on the roof for us to arrive." Neighbor Helen Kelly said, "I could hear the dog barking. I looked outside and saw two fire engines. It was a real shock. I don't know the man next door well, but I see him out and about and we speak occasionally. It's a real nightmare for him. Some rooms are gutted; he has no power or anything like that. We went round first thing today with cups of coffee for him. He was very distraught." A burning cigarette may have caused the blaze. Mr. Bird said, "It seems this started late on Sunday night when the man emptied his ashtray into the bin. One cigarette had not been extinguished properly which caused this fire. This shows the danger of not putting out cigarettes late at night, and also the importance of a smoke alarm." (73)

" **The Dog was Trying to Protect the Baby. She's a Female Dog. It Must be Her Mothering Instinct"**

In June 2012, a dog found an abandoned newborn baby girl in Ghana. The dog stayed curled up around the baby under a bridge in Winkongo, and when the dog's owner and some other people came looking for it, they saw and rescued the baby girl. Ghana News Agency reporter Hannah Zemp-Tapang said, "The dog was trying to protect the baby. She's a female dog. It must be her mothering instinct." She added, "Within my ethnic group, it is believed that one of our ancestors was protected that way. It is a legend that a baby was alone at home when one of the roofs set on fire. A dog in the house took the baby by its mouth and brought it to safety." The baby girl was taken to a local health directorate. (74)

" **We Want Her to have the Most Normal Childhood She Possibly Can** "

Three-year-old Alida Knobloch of Georgia suffers from neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy, aka NEHI, which makes it difficult for her to breathe. In fact, she needs the use of an oxygen tank. This leads to a problem: How can a three-year-old girl carry around a six-pound oxygen tank? Fortunately, Alida's parents, Aaron and Debbie Knobloch, found a solution. Mr. Gibbs is a Goldendoodle (a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle), and he is trained to carry around Alida's oxygen tank for her and to follow her. In March 2012, Aaron said, "We want her to have the most normal childhood she possibly can." The family even moved from Utah to Georgia so they could get the services of Mr. Gibbs, whom the Knobloches call a "four-legged lifeline." Debbie said about her daughter, "She loves Mr. Gibbs and he loves her, too." (75)

Louis Presses the Panic Button

In May 2012, when Victoria Shaw, age 58 and with disabilities such as glaucoma and arthritis, who lives in Wrexham, north Wales, suffered a fall, Louis, her nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier, came to her rescue and pressed a panic button that brought her the help she needed. Ms. Shaw said, "He's just a pet, but I've been training him to hit the button just in case. But it's always been just a bit of a game. This is the first time he's done it for real. I had been in the shower, and I was just coming out when my slipper got caught under the rug and I tripped. I hit my back and my shoulder and felt my leg going underneath me and heard a crack—I thought I'd broken my knee, but I hadn't. I broke my glasses, and I can't see anything without them. I can't remember hitting my head, but I came round with my leg twisted under me and I could hear a voice." Ms. Shaw is registered with Wrexham Council's Telecare service, and she had panic buttons throughout her home. One panic button is on the floor, and she had trained Louis to press it. Ms. Shaw said that Louis "must have thought 'this is not a game—this is for real,' and hit the panic button. He was right beside me, right in my face—he wouldn't leave me." Telecare operative Sarah Mcloughlin said, "It's great news that Louis was there to support Ms. Shaw and that Louis had been trained to raise the alarm. When I got through to Ms. Shaw, I called the paramedics and stayed on the line to reassure her until they arrived. Louis was a great asset to Ms. Shaw in this incident, and together we were able to assist her during this vulnerable time." Ms. Shaw said, "I'm no dog trainer, but I just got to work on him. He's not only my best friend and companion, but my soul mate. I can't bear to be without him because of the things that he does for me." (76)

Puppy Rescue

In May 2012, someone apparently dumped a two-month-old female terrier mix by the side of a highway in Riverside County, California. The puppy chased after the car and was in danger of being run over by the other cars on the highway. Richard Mazon stopped and rescued the puppy and turned it over to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, whose spokesperson, Officer Mark Visyak, said, "This man is a hero. If not for his quick thinking, the dog likely would have continued running onto the highway." (77)

A Battered Woman and a Hero Dog

Battered women sometimes are unwilling to stay in shelters because they aren't allowed to take their pets with them. This was the case until 2012 at Rose Brooks Center, a women's shelter in Kansas City, Missouri, until a battered woman with a hero dog brought about a change. Called Mackenzie, the battered woman said, "When your life is being threatened and you're in that situation, you don't think. [You only want to] make it through the next blow. Make it through the next second. Make it through the next minute." Her 140-pound Great Dane, named J. Matthew, saved her life. Mackenzie said about her abusive boyfriend, "He grabbed me by my shirt and put me through the wall. Literally [through the wall]—dry wall, boards, nails—to the other side." Her Great Dane protected her. Mackenzie said, "And my boyfriend goes in to hit me, and J. Matthew lays on top of me." Her Great Dane took the blows that were meant for her. Her boyfriend took the Great Dane and left the dog at a busy intersection; Mackenzie went first to the police and then to a women's shelter. Mackenzie remembered, "I said, 'Let me go back and get my dog and I'll come back. And they said, 'We really don't accept dogs.' And I just said, 'Oh, I'll drive out of town... and we'll just stay at a rest stop.'" Mackenzie did not want to part from her dog for a good reason: "the fact that he saved my life, the fact that he sacrificed his body for me.... How could I not save him? How could I walk away from him?" Rose Brooks Center CEO Susan Miller said that the center made an exception for Mackenzie's dog, "and I must say, I'm glad we did." Ms. Miller said, "It was just great to see the bonding they had, the healing process they went through together.... It really made us realize this was something we needed to do: We needed to provide this opportunity for women to bring their pets." The center now has a brand-new pet kennel that is dedicated to Mackenzie and her dog, J. Matthew. (78)

" **I Started to Panic and Called for Help as Cocoa was in Great Distress"**

On 30 July 2008, Belfast, Ireland, resident Carole Greenan was walking her friend's pet dog, a three-year-old chocolate Labrador named Cocoa, when it jumped into the River Lagan in Lagan Valley Regional Park after seeing a duck. Ms. Greenan said, "Cocoa is always jumping into the river there as she loves the water. I took the lead off her and she jumped in after a duck, but she got her neck trapped in some mesh wire and rope that was in the river. I started to panic and called for help as Cocoa was in great distress." A male passerby went into the water and freed Cocoa. Ms. Greenan said, "By this stage, Cocoa was starting to go under and a crowd had gathered at the riverbank. I helped him [the Good Samaritan] out of the water, but did not get a chance to thank him properly for what he did as he was dripping wet and had to run home. I just want to thank him for his valiant efforts in saving Cocoa because if he had not have jumped in she might have drowned." (79)

Part-Time Model Saves Bi Bi

On 16 August 2009, strong winds swept across Victoria, Australia. Sue Drummond and her Maltese-shitzu cross Bi Bi were on Brighton Pier in Melbourne when the wind suddenly blew Bi Bi into the water. Ms. Drummond said, "I thought he was going to sink and then maybe I wouldn't be able to find him. But I didn't really want to hop in the water either because I wasn't quite sure if I could make it to shore with a struggling dog." Passerby Raden Soemawinata, age 20, who was on the pier to scatter his grandmother's ashes, came to the rescue. He took off his pants and jumped off the pier and into the water and rescued Bi Bi. Mr. Soemawinata said, "It was pretty cold and windy, but it wasn't such a hard decision to jump in. It wasn't such a great feat." He added, "I'm a part-time model, so getting into my jocks [stripping to my underwear] isn't so different to what I do for work." (80)

" **I'm a Mother. You Have to Save Your Children"—and a Mother Duck's Ducklings**

On 2 June 2012, Tina Miller and Jean Darnell were driving north on East Beltline Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, when they saw a distressed duck near a storm grate in the median. They thought they knew why the duck was distressed: Its ducklings must have fallen through the storm grate. They stopped to render assistance. After two hours of searching, and with the assistance of others, including Grand Rapids Sewer Department maintenance worker Chad Reul, another Good Samaritan named Jennifer Poth, and a Kent County sheriff's deputy who kept them safe from traffic, they rescued the five ducklings. In part, the rescue involved using a scoop fashioned from a long metal gutter cleaner, hair tie, and plastic cup, and. Ms. Miller said, "I had to do something. I couldn't just drive away." Ms. Darnell said, "I'm a mother. You have to save your children." (81)

" **Nothing Could Make Me Stop Loving You"**

This post appeared on the Web site "Gives Me Hope": "Yesterday I told my dad and step mom I was gay. I thought they would both take it badly. After I had told them I asked, 'Do you still love me?' My step mom jumped up and gave me a hug and said, 'Nothing could make me stop loving you.'" Here is another Gives Me Hope story: "When I was 3 my dad saved my life. He had me in his lap as he was driving a 20-ton loader, the wheel broke off sending us into a ditch, the loader right after us. I woke up in my father's arms, 10ft from the tractor. He broke 3 ribs but never let me go." (82)

" **First Pals: What Makes Dad So Cool? He's the Swim Coach, Tent Maker, Best Friend, Bike Fixer and Hug Giver—All Rolled into One. Or Two"**

The American Family Association's One Million Moms project supported a boycott of JCPenney after it hired lesbian Ellen Degeneres as a spokesperson. JCPenney responded by keeping Ms. Degeneres as a spokesperson and by using a real-life family with two dads in a 2012 Father's Day advertisement. The ad features real-life dads Todd Koch and Cooper Smith with their children, Claire and Mason. The family looks very, very happy. The ad has this text: "First Pals: What makes Dad so cool? He's the swim coach, tent maker, best friend, bike fixer and hug giver—all rolled into one. Or two." By the way, Ms. Degeneres says that she supports traditional values: "And here are the values that I stand for. I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me those are traditional values; that's what I stand for." (83)

Born This Way

Sometimes, a male discovers that he is bisexual. This happened to one man who met Lady Gaga and got "Born This Way"—in Lady Gaga's handwriting!—tattooed on his wrist. The man's father was old-school Italian, and the man was afraid to come out to him, but he did. To show his love for his bisexual son, the old-school Italian father got "Born This Way"—in Italian—tattooed on his wrist. After the old-school Italian father revealed the tattoo to his bisexual son, the two hugged each other for a long time. (84)

" **The Westpac Helicopter Came and Picked Me Up and Took Me to Hospital. If It wasn't for Them, I'd Be Dead"**

When Shiv Odedra was two years old, he nearly died on his uncle's farm in New Zealand when a reversing lawnmower ran over his leg while he was playing. Emergency personnel and a Westpac rescue helicopter saved his life. Shiv said, "The Westpac helicopter came and picked me up and took me to hospital. If it wasn't for them, I'd be dead. I remember flying in the helicopter; it was like I was walking on clouds. I thought the hospital was in the clouds." In 2012, the now eight-year-old boy, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand, raised money for the Westpac Chopper Appeal by selling lollies, aka candies, each Sunday at local markets. He has raised money in the past for other charities. Shiv said, "Last year I raised $120 for Red Cross Christchurch Fund, but this year I chose Westpac. I was thinking I could do something closer to my heart." He saved $45 of his own money to buy his first lot of lollies, and he was able to expand his fundraising operation after getting a $200 loan from Westpac Bank in Orewa. Shiv said, "I have my own eftpos [Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale] card and pin number. It's cool." (85)

The Ravioli that Exploded

In June 2012 in Birchington, Kent, England, Vicky Patmore, age 32, lifted the film from a beef ravioli microwave meal she had just cooked, and the ravioli exploded, burning her face and chest. Her daughter, eight-year-old Ella Rake, knew exactly what needed to be done. First, she called an ambulance, and then she told her mother what to do to prevent permanent scarring. As Ella advised, her mother took a cold shower and then wrapped the wounds in cling film. Ms. Patmore said, "I am so proud of her. I was in a bad way, and she just knew what to do straight away. I had gone into a state of shock." Ella, who is studying first aid at an after-school club, said, "We have just learnt about burns, so that's how I knew what to do. When the ambulance arrived, the man told my mum I had done the right thing." Ms. Patmore said, "I am really grateful to the school for teaching first aid. Thank heavens for those classes. Miss Shipley, who leads the club, is amazing. I commend her for it." Even at age five, Ella knew what to do in an emergency: When her mother suffered a heart attack, Ella called an ambulance. Ms. Patmore said, "She is like a little carer to me—she is amazing." Ella said, "I'd like to be a zoo keeper when I'm older, as I want to look after animals. I don't want to be a vet, as I wouldn't like to cut an animal open. I don't want to be a doctor, either, because I don't like people being sick." (86)

" **She Took Her Last Breath as We Walked in the Door"**

At about 10:30 a.m. on 15 September 2011, Cynthia Herbert, a sixth-grade teacher at P.S. 327 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, was working on a laptop when she lost consciousness. She said, "I don't really remember what happened. I was told that my laptop slammed on the floor." She had told her students that she was suffering from heart disease, and she had taught them what to do in case of an emergency. The students, all approximately 11 years old, ran to get help. An assistant principal called 911, and a gym teacher arrived with a defibrillator. A crew of EMTs and paramedics also arrived quickly. Howard Henry, an FDNY paramedic, said, "She took her last breath as we walked in the door." Mr. Henry placed a breathing tube down her throat, and a co-worker, Andre Pierre-Louis, started an IV. The EMTs—Raul Perez and Ricardo Otero—used a defibrillator to get her heart started. Ms. Herbert remained in a coma for three days at Brookdale University Hospital. Ms. Herbert said that doctors had told her husband to start making arrangements in case of her death. But she woke up out of the coma, and her life returned to normal. She said, "I really don't take a lot for granted. I'm a very spiritual person... it probably just reaffirmed my belief in prayer." Mr. Henry said, "I really think we should sing a little praise to those children. They initiated it." (87)

" **All I Could Do was Make Her Comfortable and Keep Reassuring Her [that] Help was on the Way"**

On 3 March 2010, a 69-year-old woman apparently suffered a stroke and fell unconscious by the side of the Leichhardt Highway in an area of Queensland, Australia, that rising floodwaters had made difficult to get to. Tony and Di Selby spent two hours with the woman before emergency workers could arrive. The woman apparently had driven to the side of the road after she started having a stroke. She got out of her car and then fell unconscious. Mr. Selby discovered the woman. He called his wife, who called Australia's emergency number: 000. Mrs. Selby then went to her husband and the woman. Mrs. Selby said, "She was breathing and her pulse was good, but she was coming in and out of consciousness. But she only ever slightly regained consciousness. All I could do was make her comfortable and keep reassuring her [that] help was on the way." Mrs. Selby added, "I didn't think twice. It was no big deal. I just got out there and did it." A Queensland Ambulance Service officer gave the Selbys instructions over a cell phone about what to do for the woman. A helicopter took the woman to the Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland. Mrs. Selby said, "He [the QAS officer] was really good, and the [RACQ] CareFlight team were just incredible." A QAS spokesman said about Mrs. Selby, "She organised care for the patient, looked after her and closed the road to allow the helicopter to land. She was very good, very calm, very helpful, and very concerned about the lady's welfare." (88)

" **I Know I Wouldn't be Standing Here Today if She Didn't Make that Phone Call"**

In April 2012, Melissa Dyson collapsed in her Palmerston, Canberra, Australia, home. Fortunately, her 11-year-old daughter, Emily, called Australia's emergency number (000) and got help for her, thus saving her life. Emily said, "I could tell that she was very sick, but I didn't know what it was." Ambulance Communications spokesman Mathew Davis, who took Emily's phone call, said, "She's one of the most calm, relaxed 11-year-olds in that situation that I've ever encountered. I think everyone should learn a thing from Emily to always remember to call triple-0, even if you don't know what's going on or you think it's only minor." Melissa Dyson said, "I know I wouldn't be standing here today if she didn't make that phone call. We've always taught her to dial triple-0 since she was little, since she was about five years old." She added, "It's so important to try to get that message across to children from an early age to dial triple zero if there's an emergency." (89)

Grace Varley: Five-Year-Old Hero

In May 2012, Myles, the two-year-old brother of Grace Varley, age five, started choking on a chicken nugget in their Amityville, Long Island home. Their grandmother, who was babysitting them, ran outside to find help. Grace calmly called 911. She said, "When Nana ran out of the house, I called 911." Grace's mother, Alison, said, "Grace surprises us constantly. She's far better than I could ever be, and that's all you ever really hope for your children." Grace said, "I love playing catch with the balls [with Myles]. That's Myles' favorite game, too." How did Grace know to call 911? She explained that her teachers taught her. (90)

" **Norah Remained Absolutely Calm Throughout the Entire Event—and I Believe She Single-handedly Saved This Woman's Life"**

On 1 July 2012 in a restaurant in Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County Sheriff's Office Citizen Corps volunteer Norah Sliger saved a life during her lunch break. Ms. Sliger and Citizen Corps Program Coordinator Betsy Hambleton were eating lunch together when a woman at a table near them started choking. Ms. Hambleton said, "At first we weren't sure what was going on with the woman. It almost looked like a mild seizure. Then Norah and I realized the woman was choking on a piece of food obstructing her airway." The woman's lips started turning blue, and Ms. Sliger took action and performed abdominal thrusts. Ms. Hambleton said, "After the first two attempts to dislodge the obstruction yielded no results, Norah made a third attempt and it successfully dislodged the food. Norah remained absolutely calm throughout the entire event—and I believe she single-handedly saved this woman's life." (91)

" **It Could be Me There—I Would Want Somebody to Come Help Me Out"**

Around 7 a.m. on 13 May 2008 in downtown Edmonton, Canada, a man in his 50s suffered a heart attack and fell off a bench near Jasper Avenue and 101 Street. Marcus Dyck, who was on his way to work, ran over to the man and started giving him CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Mr. Dyck said the following day, "I just remember the basic survival. They need air, and make sure that the airway was open. And that was the most important thing." He added that he was relieved when emergency crews showed up: "It was tough to know when exactly should I start breathing for this guy and when not to. But these guys showed up just in time." Emergency Medical Services Chief Joe Acker, who gave Mr. Dyck a certificate of commendation and a first-aid kit, told him, "It's fantastic that you did that. Certainly you contributed to the success of the resuscitation and got the patient to where he is now. So congratulations." Mr. Dyck said, "It could be me there—I would want somebody to come help me out." (92)

" **It's Better to have a Cracked Rib than be Dead"**

On 7 January 2012 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, farmer John Macnicol noticed that his neighbor Bryan 'Bart' Ward had three sheep that needed to be sheared. Being a good neighbor, Mr. Macnicol offered to do the shearing. Two-and-a-half sheep later, he suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Mr. Ward had been trained in first aid, and he performed CPR on Mr. Macnicol for 40 minutes until an ambulance arrived and restarted Mr. Macnicol's heart with a defibrillator. Mr. Macnicol was taken to a hospital and put into an induced coma until he had a chance to recover. He survived. Mr. Ward broke five of Mr. Macnicol's ribs while doing CPR, but such things frequently happen in CPR. According to a University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) website, "Frequently ribs are broken with the pressure CPR places on the sternum. Some studies quote up to 30% of cardiac arrest victims have broken ribs as a result of CPR. This happens more frequently the older the victim since the cartilage is less compliant and the bones more easily crackable. But remember, it's better to have a cracked rib than be dead." Mr. Macnicol said, "I feel bloody good now, and bloody lucky. I may have a damaged heart, but it must be strong to get though this." He added, "I'm not ready to die. I'm too busy and have too many things left to do." Mr. Ward said that Mr. Macnicol is not permitted to shear his sheep anymore: "He's only allowed to come to our place now to pick lemons or have a beer on the deck." (93)

" **The Smoke was Thick. They were Holding the Baby Out So [the Baby] Could Breathe. I Could Hear Them Calling Out for Help"**

On 27 May 2012 in Edgewater, which is on the north side Chicago, Illinois, fire broke out in a four-story apartment building. In the fire, one police officer, six firefighters, and eight residents suffered minor injuries. The only fatality was a dog, thanks to civilian Good Samaritans and emergency personnel. Areal Delacruz, age 21, and Ernest Prentic, age 24, rescued several children. Mr. Delacruz said after the fire, "We were in the right place at the right time. I'm still shaking." The two men heard screams and saw smoke. And they saw a man holding a baby outside a second-story window. Mr. Prentic climbed onto the top of a structure next to and joining the apartment building. He was close enough to the window that the man inside could pass the baby and other children to him. Mr. Prentic said, "It was a blur. But I think there were five babies." Mr. Prentic passed the children to Mr. Delacruz, who was on the ground. Mr. Delacruz said, "They were all crying." Mark Blackburn, age 25, who also rescued a baby, said, "The smoke was thick. They were holding the baby out so [the baby] could breathe. I could hear them calling out for help." Mr. Blackburn climbed onto a cement overhang and took the baby from the father. He said, "I know a lot of people lost their things, but nobody died. I wouldn't mind being a firefighter." District Chief Timothy Sampey said, "The firefighters definitely did a phenomenal job... even the civilians were very helpful. It saved on many more casualties that could have happened." Jon Fajardo, age 29, who climbed down a firefighters' ladder, said, "There was smoke everywhere." The firefighters rescued people and pets from the fire. Mr. Fajardo's girlfriend, Jaime Barber, who was not at home when the fire broke out, said, "The firefighters are heroes. They went back for China [her 10-year-old Jack Russell]; she's my baby." (94)

" **I Threw a Rock Through Their Window and Went in and Just Told Them They Needed to Get Out"**

During the weekend before 2 July 2012, a garage in northwest Bakersfield, California, caught fire while the family in the house were taking a nap. A Good Samaritan named Ryan Silva saw the fire and took action. He said, "I went to their front door and nobody answered. I threw a rock through their window and went in and just told them they needed to get out. I carried the grandson out and got the grandfather out. Went back and went to the room and got the grandkids out." Don Coker, the house owner, said, "I heard someone beating on the door. I jumped in my Hoveround [electric wheelchair], and I saw smoke. I opened the door to the garage, and flames knocked me back." All members of the family got out safely. (95)

" **We Could Hear a Woman Crying Inside. A Man Came Rushing Out of a Different Entrance, and All Three of Us Began Kicking the Door Down"**

In March 2006 in Chatham, Kent, England, two schoolboys, 14-year-old Aaron Butler and 15-year-old Ashley Jones, may have saved a woman's life when they helped to kick in the door of a house on fire. Medway fire station watch manager Paul Nash said, "Without a doubt, she could have died if it wasn't for their action. They did extremely well." Aaron said, "We could hear a woman crying inside. A man came rushing out of a different entrance, and all three of us began kicking the door down. It didn't go easily, partly because it had a security chain in place." Ashley said, "The woman was standing behind the door by the time we got it open. She was in a state of shock. We got her out, and then adults took over and looked after her. Then the fire burst through the ground-floor windows, and Aaron pushed me out of the way just in time." (96)

" **If She would have Died, It Would Have Been like Two People Dying Because She's Seven Months Pregnant"**

On 4 October 2008, two Good Samaritans rescued Yole Basile, age 34 and seven months pregnant, by carrying her out of her smoke-filled apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Basile's three daughters screamed, "Mom's up there!" Laundromat manager Karl Ahrendts, age 71, and neighbor Francisco Jaenchaies, age 33, went to the rescue. Mr. Jaenchaies said, "I looked at the other guy and said, 'Let's go!' If she would have died, it would have been like two people dying because she's seven months pregnant." They ran up to the third-floor apartment, found Ms. Basile lying in bed, and carried her down the stairs to safety. Mr. Jaenchaies said, "She didn't even know what was going on." Mr. Ahrendts said, "We did what we had to do. (97)

Tall Rescue is Not a Tall Story

In September 2011, Lincoln Dodd, a six-foot-eight paramedic, arrived first on the scene of a fire in Belmont, Hereford, England. Trapped on the first floor of their home were a middle-aged husband and wife. Mr. Dodd stood on tiptoes under an open window and told the woman to stand on his shoulders. Then he walked her to a safe place. He returned and rescued her husband in the same way. Mr. Lincoln said, "I just did what came naturally—I didn't really think about it. The fire was so fierce the paintwork was blistering—I could hear the couple screaming for help from the upstairs window. When I stood on my tiptoes, they could dangle their legs out of the window and onto my shoulders. It must have looked like a circus act to anyone watching me carrying people standing on my shoulders. But they got out alive and that's the main thing." A spokesperson for the West Mercia Ambulance Service said, "Everyone calls him Tiny as a joke because he's so tall. But his height really saved the day this time—and that's no tall story." (98)

Henry Gallagher: Cable Guy and Hero

On 14 June 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts, a cable guy alerted a woman that the house she had a second-story apartment in was on fire after he saw heavy black smoke coming out of the first-floor windows during a service call to a house next door. Dawn Dingee, the woman who was rescued, said, "Just as I came out, the windows busted. I've never seen anything like it in my life." Because she works nights, she was in bed on the second floor. She said that if not for the cable guy, she would have died in the fire. She said, "I have no idea, all I heard was the smash of a window and that's it. Before I knew it, the cable guy is the one that saved me. He's the one that woke me up and was like, 'You got a fire,' kicking my door. If it wasn't for him, I'm really grateful." Henry Gallagher, the cable guy, is modest. Like many heroes, he said that he is not a hero and that anyone would have done what he did: "She heard us yelling, 'Fire!' If that's saving her life, then yeah, I guess. That's the best we could do." (99)

" **This Stranger has Our Undying Friendship and Love, 'Cause He Saved Our Lives"**

In March 2006 in Lynn, Massachusetts, a fire broke out in the home of married couple Kenneth Anastos and Cheryl Young, and their 11-year-old son, Daniel, trapping them inside. Fortunately, a man who lives in their neighborhood, Eric Smith, noticed the fire while he was on his way to work and called 911, then rushed to help the family. He said, "I heard the window go out and I seen them. They said they had a ladder in the back. I got the ladder and came over. I leave my house every morning at the same time and just happened to be there, so, something everyone would have done." Mr. Anastos said, "The room was filling with heavy black smoke, and someone put a ladder up to the window. I handed my son out first and then my wife. I started throwing up, and the stranger helped me down the ladder." Mr. Smith did not stay around after the rescue. Mr. Anastos said, "We went walking around when it got light out, thanking people and looking for the hero. But he couldn't be found. This stranger has our undying friendship and love, 'cause he saved our lives." (100)
CHAPTER 3: STORIES 101-150

" **He had the Presence of Mind to Stick Around and Get Everybody Out"**

In April 2012, a fire broke out at an apartment building in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. A man was trapped on a third-floor balcony, but firefighters rescued him by using a ladder. A Good Samaritan banged on doors and alerted residents to the fire. Apartment-building resident Glenn Hoffman said, "He did a good thing—most people would just run. He had the presence of mind to stick around and get everybody out, thank God." (101)

" **It's Instinctive. I Think You Worry About What Needs to be Done"**

On 25 May 2012, an explosion occurred in a Recreational Vehicle that caught on fire at the KOA campsite in York County, Virginia, and the people inside screamed for help. Inside were a man and a woman and their two grandchildren: a girl and a boy. Michael Frankenthaler, Steve Long, and Jeff Wagner all ran to the RV. They helped get three of the people outside. The boy was missing at first, but he was found outside with second- and third-degree burns. Mr. Frankenthaler is a doctor, and he made sure that the burn victims were wrapped in wet towels. More campers arrived to help, and Dr. Frankenthaler had them talk to the burn victims to keep them conscious. Dr. Frankenthaler said, "You could look at their fingers and hands and tell they were badly burned." Mr. Long and Mr. Wagner, who are active-duty military servicemen, used fire extinguishers to put the flames out in the RV. Mr. Long said, "It's instinctive. I think you worry about what needs to be done." All four victims were taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Firefighters suspected that a propane leak caused the explosion. (102)

" **I Just Grabbed Him. His Skin Just Pulled Off His Arm"**

According to Taras "Taz" Lane, a 44-year-old disabled chef living in Dover, New Hampshire, "Fire and me just don't get along." Nevertheless, fire seems to follow him. On 28 September 2011, fire broke out in his apartment building and nearly killed his neighbor and friend Randy Thompson. Mr. Lane was cooking in his apartment when the fire alarm rang on and off and most people evacuated the apartment building. Mr. Lane saw that Mr. Thompson's door was still closed, so he pounded on it. Receiving no response, he kicked in the door. Spraying a fire extinguisher into the burning apartment, he tried to reach Mr. Thompson, but he could not. Mr. Lane said, "I didn't remember I didn't have any shoes on." He exited the building, but he got a boost so he could reach through a window and try to rescue Mr. Thompson. Mr. Lane said, "I just grabbed him. His skin just pulled off his arm." He kept trying to rescue his neighbor. He said, "I wasn't going to leave him." Fortunately, firefighters showed up and entered the apartment and rescued him. Mr. Lane and his wife used to live in Rochester, New Hampshire, where in 2004 he rescued a couple whose home was on fire. He ran into the burning home, where he found a man and a woman. Because of the man's need to use an oxygen tank, he was reluctant to leave his home. Mr. Lane said, "I told him this was his lucky day." He carried the man out of the house, while the man's wife carried the oxygen tank. Mr. Lane said, "I don't think—I just do." In a third encounter with fire, the duplex he and his wife were living in burned down. They escaped with their lives, but they lost all of their possessions inside the duplex. (103)

" **She Never Screams. I Thought Maybe My Dog Died** **"**

In July 2005 in Newtonville, Massachusetts, Kevin Towell, age 18, and his mother saved the life of William McGrath, age 85, a World War II veteran who started a fire in a shed. The fire got out of control, and Mr. McGrath fell and hurt his hip, rendering himself immobile. Cynthia Towell, Mr. McGrath's next-door neighbor, saw that he was in trouble, and she removed a gas can from the shed. Then, because Mr. McGrath was too heavy for her to lift, she ran to wake up her son. Kevin said, "I heard noises outside and my mother screaming hysterically. She never screams. I thought maybe my dog died. I was thinking about putting clothes on." Instead, he went outside in his boxer shorts. Kevin said, "At first, I couldn't move him. He was moaning and making some noises, but he didn't say anything. Eventually, I lifted him up a bit and dragged him back from the fire." (104)

" **I was Just Very Happy to Help, and am Glad There are No Casualties"**

In May 2012 in an apartment building in the Taman Jurong section of Singapore, Malaysia, Sirajul Islam, age 47, heard shouts. They grew louder, and he investigated and found that an apartment below his was on fire. He called the police and then rushed to render help. Five people were inside the burning apartment. Mr. Islam said, "The smoke was very thick, and I was just thinking how fast I could bring the people out." Neo Cheng Huat, age 83, and his son Hiap Ann, age 42, also showed up to render help. Mr. Islam said, "The metal grille was latched, and we shouted to the people inside for the key." Someone inside the apartment got the key to them, and Mr. Islam unlocked the metal grille. Everyone inside the apartment survived, but they needed hospitalization because of burns. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, an MP for Jurong GRC, visited Mr. Islam, Mr. Huat, and Mr. Ann and praised them for their bravery. Deputy Prime Minister Shanmugaratnam said, "Fortunately, the neighbors were very quick to move in to assist, because the family was understandably in a state of confusion." Mr. Islam said, "I was just very happy to help, and am glad there are no casualties." (105)

" **Special People Do that Sort of Action. Not Everyone Would Run Into a Burning Building as He Did, So a Very Heroic Action"**

In June 2012 in Noble Park, a suburb in Melbourne, Australia, Douglas Berry, age 27, saw a house on fire. He ran to the house and looked in the window. He saw 85-year-old Dorothy Rice and lots of flames. Mr. Berry said, "She was standing there. She didn't seem to know what was going on around her. There was smoke all around and her hair was singed. She was still dressed in her nightdress." He ran inside, threw her over his shoulder, and carried her out of the house. Keira Hawkins, Ms. Rice's granddaughter, said, "He didn't know what he was walking into. He could have been confronted with anything, but he went back and tried to help." Ms. Rice suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation. The Country Fire Authority's Bernie Frawley said, "Heroic, there is no doubt about it... special people do that sort of action. Not everyone would run into a burning building as he did, so a very heroic action." (106)

" **I was Told There were Two People in the Van, and I was Worried It Might Blow"**

On 14 May 2012 in the Gateway Plaza in Vallejo, California, a stalled PACE Solano passenger van was heavily smoking. Two men in wheelchairs were inside and needed help to get out before flames engulfed the van. At least two Good Samaritans came to the rescue. Bill Putnam, a driver for California Taxicab, got the wheelchair lift working, and he and another Good Samaritan got the two men out of the van. Mr. Putnam said, "I was told there were two people in the van, and I was worried it might blow." Roy Thomas, who was on his lunch break from working construction work at the nearby Toys 'R Us/Babies 'R Us store, said flames were not yet present when he helped force the vehicle's lift gates open, but "you could tell it was going to go." The other people in the van exited without help. The van caught on fire, and Vallejo firefighters arrived quickly and put out the fire. Fire Department spokesman Mark Libby said, "We definitely commend [the Good Samaritans]." PACE Solano Director Kelley Hanson said, "I think it was very fortunate that the end result [of the fire] was that everybody got off the bus, and got off the bus safely. The Vallejo community was quite outstanding.... You hear the stories about people [elsewhere] ignoring what's going on." In 2012, PACE Solano transported approximately 400 people a day in Solano and Napa counties, and it provided such help as training, education, and employment services for adults with developmental disabilities. (107)

" **She's Still in There! She's Still in There!"**

On 1 June 2012, Nancy Decker nearly died in a fiery car crash at a Wayside, Texas toll booth after she lost control of her car, which flipped over. A Good Samaritan rescued her by jumping on top of the car, using a fire extinguisher to smash the windshield, and then, with the help of another Good Samaritan, pulling her to safety. Ms. Decker said, "He's my guardian angel—he really is. I have a hero, but God put him there." The hero is Staff Sergeant Mitchell Corbin of the 147th reconnaissance wing of the Texas Air National Guard at Ellington, Texas, who teaches emergency response to other Texas Air National Guard members. Mr. Corbin was on his way to catch a flight when he arrived at the scene of the crash. He said, "I saw a lady frantically screaming, 'She's still in there! She's still in there!'" He added, "Everything just clicked in my mind. [...] I figured out there was a big problem going on and took the steps to fix it." And he saved a life. Ms. Decker said, "He didn't give up, and I'm very thankful, very thankful that he knew what to do and he did it." Mr. Corbin said, "I was just happy that everything turned out all right and everyone was safe." Mere seconds after the dramatic rescue, Ms. Decker's car was completely engulfed by fire. (108)

" **I Thought of My Son as I was Doing That. I Thought, 'I'm Doing This for You, Buddy. This is What You Wanted to Do'"**

As contractor Chris Cox, age 48, of Petaluma, California, was pulling a woman from a burning vehicle, he was thinking of his son, Danny, who wanted to save lives as a firefighter but who became paralyzed as a result of a car crash and a year later, in August 2011, died in another car crash. While accepting a Red Cross bravery award in April 2012, Chris remembered that even as a small boy, Danny had said, "I want to help people. I want to save people." In January 2012, Chris saw a burning car in a field in Cotati, California. He stopped his work truck and ran over to the car. Chris said about Danny, "I felt like he was shining down on me, working through me." Chris opened a car door, removed a small dog from the female driver's lap and placed the dog on the ground. Using a Leatherman tool that he wears on his belt for his work, he cut the woman's seatbelt. He and another Good Samaritan then got the driver, Ricki Ann Thiele, age 43, out of the car as smoke poured around them. Chris said, "I thought of my son as I was doing that. I thought, 'I'm doing this for you, buddy. This is what you wanted to do.'" Ricki and her dog both survived. Chris said as he accepted the bravery award, "I'm mostly honored to have saved a life." (109)

" **There's No Way I'm Not Going to Get a Kid out of a Burning Car. We're Gonna Figure Out a Way of Doing It"**

In September 2009 in a six-vehicle chain-reaction crash on the Niagara Thruway in Buffalo, New York, three Good Samaritans rescued a man and two children who were trapped in their crashed burning car. Dr. Dietrich Jehle, the Erie County Medical Center Associated Medical Director, said, "We bashed out some of the windows. First we got the [six-year-old] girl out of the back seat of the car, 'cause the engine was flaming and some smoke started to get into the passenger compartment." Then they rescued the male driver. Iron worker Michael Byham, who survived the crash on a motorcycle, was one of the Good Samaritans. The hardest person to rescue was Asa Hill, age seven, who was wedged in the back of the car. Dr. Jehle said, "Someone said there's no way we can get the kid out. I said to myself there's no way I'm not going to get a kid out of a burning car. We're gonna figure out a way of doing it." They tried to put out the fire with fire extinguishers, but the fire flared up again. Mr. Byham said, "The doctor goes, 'Come on, we got to get that kid out. You go through the passenger side; I'll go through the driver's side. Just start pulling,' and dude, I mean, I'm a 275-pound guy, and he finally popped out of there." The car was rocking in their effort to free the boy, but free him they did. A man wearing blue jeans assisted in freeing the boy. (110)

" **As Soon as We'd Got Him Clear, The Car Burst Into Flames and Turned Into a Fireball"**

On 2 June 2012 in Tottenham, an area of north London, England, trainee firefighter Nathan Julien, age 25, became a hero. While driving to his younger brother's birthday party, Mr. Julien saw the aftermath of a three-car crash. People in one vehicle were able to escape, but the male drivers of the other two cars were trapped. Mr. Julien said, "As soon as I saw smoke coming from one of the cars, I realised it was serious. I managed to pull the man out and with the help of a member of the public dragged him up the road. As soon as we'd got him clear, the car burst into flames and turned into a fireball." He also pulled out the driver of the other car, but this driver died while being transported to a hospital. Mr. Julien said, "I just did what I've been trained to do. My main focus was getting those men out of the burning cars. I was really sad to hear one of the men didn't survive." Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson, said, "Firefighter Julien's actions were nothing short of heroic. He put his safety aside in order to pull these two men from the burning cars. He is the sort of individual who makes the London Fire Brigade the fantastic organisation that it is and is a credit to the Brigade." (111)

" **I Want to Say Thank You for Helping Me, My Baby Sister, and My Mommy. We're Very Thankful"**

In February 2012 in Gorst, Washington, four people became heroes when they pulled an injured 27-year-old mother and her two children from their burning BMW following a three-vehicle accident on an icy road. In the backseat of the BMW were eight-year-old Divina Garner and her one-month-old sister, Winter. Divina said that when their car began to skid, "In my mind, I was like, saying, 'Mommy, can you please stop driving right now? It's freaking me out.'" The BMW hit a FedEX truck and then a Dodge Avenger. Fire broke out in the BMW. The mother's pelvis was injured, and she was unable to move, but four Good Samaritans came to the rescue. One person got the mother out, a man freed Divina, and a man and a woman working together freed Winter. Arian Salas, the driver's cousin, said, "There's nice people in the world still. I'm just very grateful." Trooper Todd Bartolac of the Washington State Patrol praised the four Good Samaritans: "That 10, 30 seconds, whatever, minute that those individuals got those kids out, and the mother out of the vehicle, that could've meant their lives." Divina said, "I want to say thank you for helping me, my baby sister, and my mommy. We're very thankful." (112)

" **I Just Hope that Somebody Would Do That for Me or My Family"**

On 24 May 2012, a driver on Highway 401 west of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, apparently suffered a diabetic attack, drove erratically, hit a transport truck, and crashed into a group of trees. Transport truck driver Micheal Collicutte witnessed the erratic driving. He said about the driver, "He was kind of swerving back and forth." Mr. Collicutte and other motorists stopped and helped another man get a door of the crashed SUV open. Mr. Collicutte said, "The vehicle was smoking, but not enough to alarm." The two men did not want to move the driver at first. They saw an insulin pen in the vehicle, and the driver said that he was diabetic. However, the SUV caught on fire, and the fire spread. The two men knew that they had to get the driver out. Jamie Davis, a patrol supervisor for Highway 401 maintenance firm Carillion Canada, and a volunteer firefighter, stopped and rendered aid. Mr. Davis said, "I figured we had to get him out of there" because if they did not, "he was dead no matter what by the time the fire trucks got there." They pulled the driver out of the SUV. Soon, fire engulfed the vehicle and the driver was taken to Cambridge Memorial Hospital. His injuries were not life threatening. Ontario Provincial Police Constable Stacey Culbert praised the Good Samaritans, saying that if they hadn't acted, "there certainly could have been a tragic result today. They took it upon themselves to get this man out of harm's way." Mr. Collicutte said, "I just hope that somebody would do that for me or my family." (113)

" **He's Got Severe Burns, But He's Got a Daughter So at Least He's Going to Live to See Her"**

In January 2012 in Brockton, Massachusetts, a speeding car hit a utility pole and caught on fire. Louis Dimitri knew that he had to take action to save the driver's life: "It was either like, that kid was going to burn, you know, get him out of the car, so I got him out of the car." Mr. Dimitri said that the driver was going very fast: "We saw him pass us, got up around the corner. He was going fast and got around the corner, and he must have lost control of the car because it was already on fire." While his girlfriend called 911, Mr. Dimitri and another person got the driver out of the car. Mr. Dimitri said that he was thinking the entire time of the rescue, "This car is going to blow up!" The driver was on fire when he was rescued. Mr. Dimitri said, "At that point the flames were huge, so like we could barely get near the car. I had to have him stick his arm out and try to grab it. Another kid stopped to help me, grabbed his arm, and pulled him to the ground." He added, "Everything was on fire, pouring off of him, and I think the whole backside of his clothing was burnt off of his body at that point, so I took the jacket and put out the fire out on him, moved him across the street and laid him down." The driver was 28 years old. Mr. Dimitri said, "If I ever got into an accident like that, I hope someone would help me." He added that the driver's "sister called me today and thanked me, so she told me how he was doing. They put him in a medically induced coma and he's got severe burns, but he's got a daughter so at least he's going to live to see her." (114)

" **In 10 Years [on the Police Force], That's the First Time I've Ever had a Civilian Stop at a Situation like That and have a Civilian Ask, 'What Do You Need from Me?'"**

On 2 July 2011, police officers Scott Ferguson and Colin Wheeler joked about how quiet things were in Farmington, New Hampshire. Things got exciting quickly. Mr. Ferguson said, "He took off one way down Route 11 and I went another, and not but a minute later I heard him sign out with what he thought was a motor vehicle into a tree—tree down. Then he was advising the motor vehicle was on fire." Four civilians stopped to assist Mr. Wheeler: Clayton Ball of Rochester, Kris Martel of Rochester, Archie Martin of Farmington, and volunteer firefighter Keith Noseworthy of Milton. The driver was alert, but he was pinned in his pickup truck by a tree. Mr. Ferguson used a fire extinguisher to contain the fire while the five others got the driver out of the truck. After they got the driver out, the fire spread throughout the truck. Mr. Ferguson said about the driver, "I've never seen him since, but from what I've been told, he's up walking around and doing fine." He added, "In 10 years, that's the first time I've ever had a civilian stop at a situation like that and have a civilian ask, 'What do you need from me?' They put this gentleman's safety ahead of their own." In 2012, the _New Hampshire Union Leader_ (Manchester, New Hampshire) gave all six men a _Union Leader_ Hero Award. Mr. Ferguson said, "I think it's great for the agency and for the people to get recognized, but in all honesty, I just did my job." (115)

" **I Did What I had to Do, and I Would Do the Same Thing Again if I Had To"**

On 27 December 1999, retired Sergeant 1st Class Stephen Bolden of Newport News, Virginia, was driving home after a trip with his wife and two children to Meigs, Georgia. They were heading north on Interstate 95 and had just crossed the Georgia-South Carolina border. Ahead of him was a minivan going the posted speed limit and ahead of the minivan was a broken-down tractor-trailer truck whose driver had put out emergency triangles as a safety precaution. Apparently, the driver of the minivan did not see the emergency triangles or the truck because it hit the tractor-trailer truck. The tractor-trailer truck was fully loaded and did not move, but the minivan ended up spinning out of control and catching on fire. Mr. Bolden stopped his car. A quick look showed that the driver of the minivan and the front-seat passenger were beyond help, but then Mr. Bolden saw a boy lift his head up. Mr. Bolden quickly got three children, aged two to 10, out of the burning minivan, saving their lives. He said, "I was shaken up, obviously, after it was over with. I didn't realize how short and how precious life is. All kinds of things go through your mind at the time. You think about your family. I did what I had to do, and I would do the same thing again if I had to." In 2001, Mr. Bolden was awarded the U.S. Army's highest noncombatant award: the Soldier's Medal. (116)

" **When I Assessed the Situation, I was Really Wondering If This was a Survivable Crash"**

On Christmas 2009, Cassi Lydy, age 18, and her boyfriend, Dylan Downs, age 17, of Hastings, Michigan, were in a car driven by Cassi when she lost control and crashed into some trees on M-179 in Rutland Township, Michigan. A person who did not have a cell phone was first on the scene and flagged down Ron and Barb Smith. The crash was serious. Ron said, "I thought it was two corpses in the car when I pulled up and walked up to it." He added, "When I assessed the situation, I was really wondering if this was a survivable crash. It impacted hard enough to shove the engine and transmission past the front windshield inside the vehicle." While waiting for emergency personnel, Barb slowed down oncoming traffic, and Ron tried to keep Cassi and Dylan calm. Ron remembered, "I said, 'You're pinned in; your foot just got caught on the bottom. You just want to slow down your breathing; take a good deep breath.' I said that several times." Ron and Barb said that many people helped Cassi and Dylan survive despite serious injuries. Ron said, "Many hands make light work. It was a collective effort; it wasn't just us. First, you have to treat people like they're human beings and everything else just falls into place." (117)

" **A Lady, I Don't Know Who She was, Came and Sat with Me and Calmed Me Down"**

On 25 January 2011, five vehicles crashed at the junction of Alma Road and Winstanley Road, Sheerness, Kent, England. Sheppey firefighters cut the roof off of the car that had been driven by Sharon Millward, age 49, who was trapped by her leg in the wreckage. Afterward, Ms. Millward praised the firefighters and paramedics and a mystery Good Samaritan who sat with and comforted her. She said, "A lady, I don't know who she was, came and sat with me and calmed me down. I don't know what we talked about as I can't really remember a lot about it, but it was very nice of her. She jumped in and made sure I was OK—she was a lovely, lovely lady. She could have carried on walking, but she didn't." As she recovered after the accident, Ms. Millward stayed with her daughter, Jade. (118)

" **Just When You Think You've Seen It All, Something New Pops Up"**

In October 2010, high winds in Lindenhurst, Illinois, blew an oak tree down on a car driven by Helen Miller, a teacher who was driving to work. A tree limb impaled her abdomen. Her husband, Todd Miller, said, "It was a fluke accident." Commander George Moravec of the Lindenhurst Police Department said, "Just when you think you've seen it all, something new pops up." He added, "She couldn't have picked a better spot. She was only about 300 feet from the fire rescue station." Rescue workers needed 20 minutes to get her out of the badly damaged car, but she was conscious. The tree limb did not pierce her lungs or stomach. Doctors at Advocate Condell Medical Center already knew Helen because the previous year she had been in a coma for 30 days there because of a heart condition nearly killed her. Todd Miller said, "She's in very good hands. We weren't worried at all." He said that his wife even sang on her way to the hospital: "Vanilla Ice, if you must ask." Connie Odoms is one of three Good Samaritans who stopped to call 911 and help Helen after the injury. Ms. Odoms said, "I just kept talking to her. I mean, me, myself, I was scared as well. I just wanted to keep eye contact and keep her calm." She added, "I just spoke with her, made sure she was calm. Then I saw that the tree was lodged into her abdominal area and my adrenalin started rushing as well." Ms. Odoms had been driving to work during the windstorm when she came upon the scene. She said, "When I got closer, I looked to the left side and I saw this woman hanging out of her car." She added that what she had done was "just human instinct. I just did what I would want anyone to do for me." Todd Miller said, "We're glad that this Good Samaritan stopped." Not everyone stopped to help. Todd Miller said, "Several passersby either sped past or actually stopped and took cell phone photographs, but this one, this lady actually stayed with my wife." Helen Miller was unable to call out for help. Todd Miller said that "she said her voice was pretty weak. She tried to scream as loud as she could but couldn't vocalize." What makes Ms. Odoms a Good Samaritan? She replied, "The way I was raised. Christian home, good family. It just carried on with me, that's all." (119)

" **They're Definitely Heroes"**

On 20 May 2012 outside of Kennywood, an amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, two New Kensington men, Zachery Hickman and Pat McKallip, both age 22, saw a car go left of center and strike a van head-on. A third vehicle was involved in the crash, but the driver was uninjured. Both Mr. Hickman and Mr. McKallip became heroes as they pulled five crying children—some of them bleeding—out of the van. The next day, passersby saw them and yelled, "Heroes." Mr. McKallip said, "We don't think we're heroes." Mr. Hickman said, "I just did what any rational man would do." He added, "I saw the van go nose down. I thought, 'Oh, no.' I just got out of the car and started running to the wreck." The two men sprinted to the van, which was carrying two adult women and their five children. Mr. McKallip said, "When I finally caught up to Zach, he was trying to pry open the van's sliding door. He said, 'There's little kids in there—we have to get them out.'" The van's door was damaged, but the two men managed to pry it open. Mr. Hickman said, "I just went inside and started to pass the kids out to Pat. The kids were crying; it was horrible. One little kid was asking for his stuffed snake that he had won at Kennywood. I just said, 'It'll be OK, buddy—we'll get it later.'" The two men passed the children out of the van to two women who had stopped to help, and then they tried to free the driver of the van, but they were unable to open the badly damaged door. Mr. McKallip said, "We couldn't get her out, so I stayed with her, and Zach went to check on the driver of the other car." The other driver was dead—an off-duty paramedic tried but failed to find a pulse. Mr. Hickman said, "I just feel like I should have went over there and helped her right away. Maybe she would have made it." However, her car was very badly damaged. Mr. Hickman's girlfriend, Nikki Wojcik, age 19, said about the two men, "They're definitely heroes." (120)

Frank Osborn Uses a Garden Hose to Rescue Two People

On 3 November 2011, a car went off the icy Mount Rose Highway in Washoe County, Nevada, and went down a cliff. Clothing store manager Frank Osborn said, "It seemed like they lost control, and then they headed to the side of the road, and went off it." Inside the car were a woman and her two-year-old son. Mr. Osborn said, "I did what was natural and pulled over to make sure they were okay." He did not have a rope in his car, but he did have a 100-foot garden hose that he had bought to clean his deck. He tied the hose to a road post with a Clove Hitch knot that he uses as a canyoneer (one who descends into canyons using ropes) and went down it to check on the occupants of the car. First he brought the boy to the safety of his warm car. Mr. Osborn said, "He was yelling and screaming, in shock; it was very cold, he was shaking, it was 20 degrees." Then Mr. Osborn helped the boy's mother to climb up the garden hose. The mother and boy were OK. Mr. Osborn said, "I couldn't believe no one was really hurt." (121)

" **If People Can't Take Time Out to Help Someone Else, There's Not Much Hope for Us, is There?"**

On 25 June 2002, Andrew Clark, who works as an official with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union on the Sunshine Coast and who lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, was driving on the Sunshine Coast Motorway when he came upon a two-car accident. Two men were trapped inside a burning car, a woman was trapped inside the other car, and a woman was lying in the road. Mr. Clark and a group of other people helped to pull the victims from the burning car and also assisted the women. Mr. Clark said, "You don't have time to think—you just do it. The thing that has stuck in my head since is how quickly it all seemed to happen—it seemed so surreal and everything seemed to be in slow motion, but it was all over very quickly. Another thing that really stuck was the fact that there were a lot of people who were on the scene before I was, who just turned their cars around and drove away—didn't stop, didn't look—just turned around and off they went. If people can't take time out to help someone else, there's not much hope for us, is there?" For his heroism, the Australia government awarded Mr. Clark a Commendation for Brave Conduct in 2003. Mr. Clark said, "My parents were tickled pink at it—to be all suited up and standing in front of the Governor was a little bit humbling and it was really nice to be recognised." (122)

" **One Minute I was Driving and the Next I was on the Roadside, Bleeding Profusely from Head Injuries"**

In June 2011, a person using the initials KKC was injured in an auto accident in the Kota Kemuning industrial area in Shah Alam, Malaysia. In a letter to the editor of the Malaysian newspaper _The Star_ , he wrote, "It happened so suddenly that all I could remember was that one minute I was driving and the next I was on the roadside, bleeding profusely from head injuries. I was in shock and knew my life was in danger." Fortunately, a man named Fadzlin helped him, using cushions from his car to staunch the bleeding and calling relevant contacts for him. Another man named Edward also called relevant contacts for him and waited with him until KKC's family members could arrive. Fadzlin even went with KKC to the hospital after the ambulance arrived. KKC wrote weeks after the accident, "Today, I am well on the road to recovery. I am deeply touched and grateful. If not for the two kind men's actions, I might have lost my life from loss of blood. My family and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fadzlin and Edward for their praiseworthy actions, above and beyond the call of duty." (123)

" **Your Mom was Worried About You; She was Asking Where You were and Making Sure You were All Right; That Was Her Concern; That was Her Main Concern"**

On 19 May 2012 on I-64 in Shelby County, Kentucky, a car crashed, killing three of the four family members inside it. Maranda White, age 18, is the only person who survived. Fortunately, some Good Samaritans came to her aid. Ms. White said, "I'm very, very, very happy and thankful for what they did." She added, "I was asleep when the car started to wreck and started to swerve. I woke up when it started to flip, and I blacked out so I don't remember much of it." She suffered many injuries in the crash: "I have a fracture on my eye socket; I have a breast bone broken. I have four broken ribs. My wrist is broken. My pelvis is broken. Out of everything that is wrong with me right now, my ankle is the only thing giving me the biggest problem." The Good Samaritans were four high school students and their limo driver. They were returning from a prom. Martha Layne Collins High School freshman Sarah Figg said, "I saw the car flipping, and I saw people shoot out." Ms. Figg ran to the wrecked car, lay on the ground, and talked to Ms. White, reassuring her. Mr. Figg said, "It was nothing I would have expected. I have blood all over my dress, but I don't care; at least I helped her." Ms. White said, "I didn't want to be alone and she actually laid down on the ground with me and stayed with me and it helped me a lot." Limo driver Dennis Gray witnessed the crash: "I'm trying to stop and do defensive driving where this car is flipping beside us and [I] start seeing bodies come out." Mr. Gray stayed with Ms. White's mother, who was still alive but later died. He said to Ms. White, "Your mom was worried about you; she was asking where you were and making sure you were all right; that was her concern; that was her main concern." (124)

" **All I could Think of was to Save Lives"**

When a police van overturned in Tzaneen, South Africa, a 23-year-old unemployed man named Sipho Sebela took action. First he ran to help the police officers in front of the van, and then he pulled two men out of the back of the van. Realizing that the two men in back of the van might be criminals or at least suspected to be criminals, he got handcuffs from the front of the van and handcuffed the two men together. (The two men were being transported so they could be put on trial in Ritavi for murder.) He also took possession of a handgun until more police officers arrived. Mr. Sebela said, "I was brave and told the criminals not to move. I only realised what I had done after a while. All I could think of was to save lives." On 13 June 2012, the South Africa Police Service gave Mr. Sebela 4,000 South African Rand (approximately $475 in United States dollars) as a reward. (125)

" **Water was Starting to Come Into the Car. It was Just Holding Its Own, But It Wouldn't Have Taken Much for It to Go"**

In November 2004, torrential rains fell in Brisbane, Australia. Tow-truck driver Matt Dearlove had finished helping fire brigade officers rescue some people whose car had washed off the road. He then received another emergency call. An 18-year-old woman's small car had been caught in the rising floodwaters, and it was in danger of being swept away. Mr. Dearlove and Sergeant Robert Duncan communicated with the young woman by using mobile telephones. Mr. Dearlove said, "Water was starting to come into the car. It was just holding its own, but it wouldn't have taken much for it to go." The two men decided to brave the water and rescue the woman. Mr. Dearborn drove his tow truck into the water while Sergeant Duncan perched on the tray of the truck. Mr. Dearborn said, "I approached from downstream. If her car went, it would hit my truck, and I would prefer it to hit me than to keep on going. I pulled up beside her and told her what we were going to do, then I rolled forward and her car slid into my truck and Rob pulled her out through her window and onto the tray." He then drove to the other side of the floodwaters. He said, "We kept on going. I wasn't going to hit reverse. I wasn't going through there again." The floodwaters pushed the car downstream, and the car was later found lying on its roof. (126)

" **He Mysteriously Slipped Away. Some People are like That, I Guess"**

In March 2006, a 1988 Toyota 4-Runner went into the cold American River west of Silver Fork, California. An anonymous Good Samaritan rescued the driver and kept him from being killed by hypothermia. Officer Dave Blood of the Placerville branch of the California Highway Patrol said, "The vehicle must have rolled over multiple times because it just destroyed [the truck]. With the water flowing like it did, [water] filled the cab of the vehicle, windows breaking out." The Good Samaritan pulled the driver from the truck. If not for the Good Samaritan, Officer Blood estimated that in six minutes the driver would have died from hypothermia. Officer Blood said, "That river was freezing." The Good Samaritan left the scene quickly. Officer Blood said, "He mysteriously slipped away. Some people are like that, I guess." (127)

" **This Could be It. I Could Die"**

On 5 June 2010, Gerry Goit's SUV plunged into the Nisqually River after he fell asleep while returning home from a trip to Mount Rainier, which is southeast of Seattle, Washington. He said, "My first thought was 'This could be it. I could die.' My head was just barely in the water—struggling to keep it above water and breathe." He added, "I did not want my kids to have to bury me. I didn't want them to have to go through that. At that point I made a decision that I am going to fight and I'm going to survive." He was unable to release his seat belt, and he was unable to reach a knife that was in his SUV. He yelled for help. He said, "I was asking God to rescue me. I didn't know if anybody had seen me go off the road." Several Good Samaritans rescued him. Anton Engleman and some of his friends were riding motorcycles when they noticed tracks leading off the road and into the water. They jumped into the strong current of the river and went to the SUV. Mr. Engleman said, "If that was me and my family in there, I'd want somebody to come help me out." He added, "When I went in there and looked in the back, he didn't look so good." They got a door open, and Mr. Engleman cut Mr. Goit's seat belt. A National Park rescue team arrived. Peter Maggio of the National Parks Service said, "When someone told me there was a man in the car, I knew that we had to get him out of the car quickly, so I knew we needed to act—and act quickly." The rescue team kept Mr. Goit warm, and a helicopter took him to a hospital. Mr. Maggio said about the Good Samaritans who had staged the rescue, "Heroes, man—they're heroes." Mr. Engleman said, "You don't really think about it. You just go, when somebody's life is on the line." Mr. Goit said, "They are my heroes. Thank you." (128)

" **My Body was Frozen, His Body was Frozen, and He was In and Out of Consciousness"**

In February 2011, Damon Simpson drove his car into a canal believed to be 12 feet deep in Louisville, Kentucky. Shayne Pry was in his car with his wife and sister-in-law and caught a glimpse of the car going into the canal. He parked his car and ran to the canal, but at first he did not see anything. Mr. Pry said, "I thought I was just imagining things. [I thought I was] too tired. I was ready to go back up and tell [my wife] that I guess I imagined [it and] that maybe she needs to drive the rest of the way home, but [at] that time a hand popped out of the water and his head comes up real quick and he goes back under." He told his wife, Samantha, to call 911, and then he jumped into the canal. Ms. Pry said, "The current, it pulled them both so fast that [...] I saw him dive in and I never saw him come up." Mr. Pry said, "It was such a steep hill and so muddy from all the rain. My body was frozen, his body was frozen, and he was in and out of consciousness. All I could do was hold onto him and pray that I was able to hold onto the shore." Ms. Pry said about Mr. Simpson, "I don't think the odds weren't very good for him, if Shayne wouldn't have jumped in. But, I tell him if he ever does it again, he better know when to quit. I don't want to lose him." (129)

" **You Don't Go Thinking You're a Superhero. You Just Go and Do What You Gotta Do, and That's What I Did"**

On 18 June 2012 on Highway 20 near Albany, Oregon, a chain-reaction accident sent a pickup truck into a pond in which it was completely submerged. Troy Elverfeld, an employee of the Oregon Department of Transportation, said, "I heard people shouting, 'There's a guy in there! There's a guy in there!' And then you just gotta think, 'Okay, what do we do to get this guy out?'" Mr. Elverfeld grabbed a metal rod and jumped into the pond. Dean Stilwell, age 56, of Sweet Home, Oregon, was in the truck. He was unconscious. Mr. Elverfeld broke the driver's side window with the metal rod and pulled Mr. Stilwell out and took him to dry land. Mr. Elverfeld said, "It's just instinct, my first instinct. What do we need to break a window? I took [the rod] out and went down there to see if somebody needed it. Well, I was the person that needed it." He added, "You don't go thinking you're a superhero. You just go and do what you gotta do, and that's what I did." Five people were injured in the chain-reaction crash; one was a toddler. (130)

" **I'm Just Eternally Grateful that There was Such a Good Samaritan Willing to Risk Her Own Life to Come and Help Some Strangers"**

On 27 June 2012, Paul Borneman III, age 33, nearly drowned with his eight-year-old daughter in Lake George, Maine. Fortunately, Renee Dostie, age 30, a mother of three from Clinton, Maine, saved their lives. Mr. Borneman had swam out to what he thought was a rock about 50 feet from shore. His daughter was on his back, and because of a fever he had had earlier in the week, he was tiring quickly. When he reached what he had thought was a rock, he discovered that it was a piece of wood, and it would not support the weight of his daughter and him. Mr. Borneman said, "I started to panic a little bit then because I was starting to get very drained of energy. I switched my daughter around to the front of me. I tried to make it toward shore. I made it about 10 feet. Didn't know if I was ever going to be able to breath again. My body was pretty much completely giving out." He added, "I just wanted to make sure that my daughter was fine; that's all I was concerned with at the time. The next thing I knew I was coming to on the shore." Ms. Dostie pulled him and their daughter to within 20 feet of shore, and then other swimmers, including Leah May, helped pull them the rest of the way to shore. Ms. May's friend Tori Barron called 911, and an ambulance took Mr. Borneman to Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, Maine, where doctors told him that he had suffered a heart arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. He was released the following day. Mr. Borneman said about Ms. Dostie, "I'm just eternally grateful that there was such a Good Samaritan willing to risk her own life to come and help some strangers. I wouldn't know what to say to her other than thank you. Thank you." (131)

Screams that "Sounded like a Parent Whose Child was in Jeopardy"

On 17 June 2012, an 11-month-old girl named Cassidy nearly drowned in Orange County, California, when she got through the fence surrounding her family's swimming pool. Fortunately, retired firefighter Joe Kerr heard the family's screams when they discovered their daughter in the pool. Naomi Peters, the girl's mother, said, "His action is why she's here." When the Peters found their daughter, Naomi said, "She was like a rag doll, you know, blue, and it's nothing you ever want to see." In his previous line of work, Mr. Kerr has heard the type of screams that came from his neighbors' house: "It typically sounded like a parent whose child was in jeopardy." He ran to the rescue. He said that others helped as well: "We all made the difference. I was just one link in the chain. I was fortunate enough to be in the position to do rescue breathing." He said, "Since it looked like the U.S. Open was going nowhere, my son encouraged me to go outside, and instead of working in the front yard, he wanted to work in the backyard." That was where they heard the screams. Mr. Kerr jumped over the fence and ran to the neighbors' house. He said, "I knocked on the door and was met by a grieving mother apparently on the phone with 911." He then ran to the back of the house and found the girl and gave her CPR. Cassidy quickly gasped, choked, and coughed up water. Paramedics took her to a hospital. She had very low oxygen levels at first, but they quickly shot up. Cassidy is now at home with her parents, and she does not show signs of brain damage. (132)

15-Year-Old Hero Zach Mortenson: "I'd Do It Again"

On 8 June 2011, 15-year-old Zach Mortenson, a wrestler and cross country runner for Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio, heard a swimmer cry for help about 360 feet from shore at Acton Lake at Hueston Woods State Park in Ohio. Zach said, "My dad's friend said, 'Go out there.' I didn't think about anything; I was just trying to hurry and get to him." Twenty-one-year-old Dane Sapp, a Miami (Ohio) University student, had called for help. Mr. Sapp said, "It was terrifying—seemed like every second was an hour." Zach dived into the water to rescue him. He said, "He was actually under water when I got to him, and I pulled him up, and I [...] kicked my legs all the way back." He added, "I'm pretty sure adrenaline kicked in during that. All I could think [was] to get him in as fast as I could." Mr. Sapp outweighed Zach by perhaps 40 pounds. Zach said, "I was saying to myself, pace myself and try and get him back and get him back safely." Mr. Sapp said, "He's a pretty cool kid, mature and really in shape. He was the perfect person to go out there for me." Zach said, "I'd do it again." In June 2012, Zach was awarded a Carnegie Medal for his heroism. (133)

" **This Little Head was Bobbing out in the Sea"**

On 3 June 2012, Stephen Fraser, a 43-year-old employee of Mainstream Insulation, was surfcasting at Tangoio Beach, north of Whirinaki Mill, New Zealand, when he seized an opportunity to become a hero after a wave washed an eight-year-old child, the son of a Korean couple who were tourists, out to sea. Mr. Fraser said, "He was there with his family, where the waves break on the shore, wading around to his ankles, when one just washed him out. He got sucked out and my friend Steph saw and yelled out, so I looked over and saw he was in a bit of trouble, so I went in and pulled him out. It was quite hard to get back in, but I got him, and his father jumped in to help pull him out of the surf." Mr. Fraser's friend, Steph Ballingall, called the waves "massive." Mr. Fraser and the Korean boy's father crawled on their hands and knees to get out of the sea because the strong current was pulling them out to sea. Rick Brown and others gave the boy basic first aid; a St. John ambulance then took the boy to Napier City Medical. Mr. Brown said, "I tell you what, that kid would have been dead and there could have been two or three more. I think the boy's father could have died trying to help—I watched a national hero rescue a boy less than a minute off dying. When I got down to the kid, he was pretty crook, and this guy was prepared to risk his life and he did, there were some pretty big dumpers out there." Mr. Brown added, "We thought, 'Oh, God, something's going to happen,' and next minute this little head was bobbing out in the sea and this guy was just off with his boots and out there." Like other heroes, Mr. Fraser is humble: "The attention is a bit embarrassing actually. I was just there and it's just one of those things that anyone would do, you don't think about, you just do. But when you do stop and think about it, well, it was all a bit much. I'm still a bit shaken up because he nearly died—it could have gone horribly wrong. I had to have a couple of beers last night to calm down, and we went fishing where no one was around today." St. John Ambulance Hastings Operations team manager John Plastow said that the boy is "a very lucky child." (134)

Two Rescues in Two Days

In June 2012, Gus Hertz, age 37, who was vacationing from Roanoke, Virginia, made two rescues in two days in Florida. On June 13, he and another Good Samaritan rescued a man from a car that went into the water near the Isla Key Bridge in south St. Petersburg. On June 14, he rescued people from a plane crash in a channel near the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa Bay. Mr. Hertz said about the plane, "I thought, 'Oh, no, I can't believe this is happening. I knew he was going to crash before he even went into the water." Mr. Hertz had been fishing. He steered his boat to the plane, took on board the pilot and passenger, and sailed them to shore. Emergency personnel quickly arrived and took over. St. Petersburg fire Lieutenant Joel Granata said, "He barely took a thank you and just left. He was just at the right place at the right time—two days in a row. That's incredible." Rodney Tyoe, the pilot, who said that the plane was buffeted by winds, was in good shape, having suffered only a cut lip. However, his passenger, Gina Zimmerman, his son's girlfriend, had more serious and painful injuries. Mr. Hertz said, "We laid her down. She didn't want to move. She kept saying, 'Don't touch me! Don't touch me!'" Fortunately, she was OK after being treated. On the previous day, a man suffered a diabetic attack and drove off the road into water. A fisherman named Kevin Daly, who is a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, went into the water and freed the driver from his car. Mr. Daly said, "Another three or four minutes, and he would have floated out there and he would have drowned." Mr. Daly then signaled for help. Mr. Hertz responded and took them to shore in his boat. St. Petersburg Police Officer Richard Grimberg said, "It could have been disastrous. The guy is lucky to be alive because the area is very isolated." Mr. Daly said, "Luckily, I could help him out. I'm glad he's OK. He doesn't even seem to be scratched." Mr. Hertz is modest about the help he provided: "I pulled people out of the water. I gave them a boat ride. I was in the right place at the right time.... It was luck. Pure coincidence." Tom Baldini, Mr. Hertz's father-in-law, said, "It's unbelievable. We couldn't be more proud. That's Gus." (135)

" **Know Your First Aid. It's Not Hard, and It Can Save a Life"**

On 20 October 2011, a boy nearly drowned during a birthday party at the Broken Hill Aquatic Centre in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. A lifeguard noticed the boy underwater. The boy was blue, had no pulse, and was unresponsive when he was taken out of the water. A member of the public performed CPR on the boy. Detective Acting Inspector Matt McCarthy said, "The bloke who did it, it's a good pat on the back for him. We haven't spoken to him. He left there just as a Good Samaritan, does his job and leaves, so obviously we'll try and catch up with him, and speak with him about it, but that's the sort of stuff we like to see." He added, "This could have quite easily turned the other way. They believe the child was underwater for several minutes, which is not good. We look at the other side of it too as CPR—know your first aid. It's not hard, and it can save a life." While recovering in a hospital, the boy was in good spirits and was eating. (136)

" **I Just Did What Anybody Else would have Done"**

On 13 June 2012, a 71-year-old man on a mobility scooter fell into Ena Mill Pool at Flapper Fold Lane, Atherton, Lancashire, England. Fortunately, Aaron Hitchen, age 26, jumped into the pool and rescued him. Mr. Hitchen, who had been fishing at the pond for a couple of hours, said, "This guy came on to the pond, got close to the edge, hit a pothole, and it sent him straight in. I just saw him go and it was instinct. He was trapped by his cardigan on the basket of the scooter, so I got rid of it, got his hand, and got him out. It was a bit of a shock, and he could have drowned if there'd been nobody around as he went right under—but I just did what anybody else would have done." Mr. Hitchen then ran to a nearby fire station to get help. David Acton, the chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, said, "Aaron did a brilliant job acting quickly to get this man out of the water and then thinking to run and get our crews, who were able to take over and treat the man until the ambulance arrived." (137)

A Heroic Swedish Mother

On 15 January 2012 near the shoreline of a creek in Flygsfors near Orrefors in southern Sweden, a six-year-old girl and her older brother fell through the ice into the cold water. The brother safely climbed out of the water but was unable to rescue his sister, so he ran home to get help. Their mother arrived and saw her daughter under the ice where she had drifted away from the hole where she and her brother had fallen through. Emergency services worker Per Persson said about the mother, "She then stomped and hit the ice and managed, after a few minutes, to break through. She then sunk into the water herself." Some people helped the mother and the daughter out of the water by extending long branches to them. They then worked on resuscitating the girl. Mr. Persson said, "The girl was on shore and they had been working for about five minutes before we arrived." The girl had serious injuries and was taken to the intensive care unit of the Kalmar hospital. (138)

" **No One was Lost; Everyone is Happy. Got a Bunch of Good Friends Around. All in All, A Good Day"**

On Memorial Day, 28 May 2012, in the water off Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, three local kiteboarders saved three lives. A wind came up suddenly and so did the waves. Erik Spencer, owner of Windymoose (kiteboarding supplies), said, "It was nuts. It was like zero to sixty in no time." James Hodge, owner of Sesh Kiteboarding, glided through the water as Mr. Spencer and Chris Bible watched from shore. Mr. Spencer said, "Hodge was kiting by, and it looked like a woman grabbed him. It immediately looked like it was trouble." Mr. Spencer said that the woman, who was 20 yards from shore, was having trouble keeping her head above water and getting to shore. Mr. Hodge turned his kite around so he could go back to the woman. Mr. Hodge said, "She looked like she was reaching for me asking for a little help. Once I got to her, she grabbed a hold of me and I pulled her in and she alerted me to two other people [who] were out a little bit further." Mr. Hodge then called to Mr. Spencer and Mr. Bible. After grabbing an unattended paddleboard, Mr. Bible headed into the water. He said, "I have goose bumps as I tell you—you could see a gentleman's head motionless in the water." Mr. Spencer and Mr. Bible both reached the older gentleman. Mr. Spencer said, "We got the guy on the paddleboard, and as soon as he was on it he was like 'Oh my God' he was saved." They also made sure the third swimmer made it safely back to shore. Mr. Hodge said, "It's kind of an emotional feeling, actually. No one was lost; everyone is happy. Got a bunch of good friends around. All in all, a good day." (139)

" **I Could Hear His Screams. It was the Screams of a Dying Child, Screaming for His Life"**

On 3 May 1996, while Detectives Allan Sparkes and Gavin Dengate were on duty in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, an emergency call came in: high waters had swept a boy, Jai Waddell, into a flooded storm water drain, and he was in danger of drowning. Detective Sparkes, tied to a lifeline and assisted by Detective Dengate, entered the drain. The waters swept him 80 metres to where he thought the boy would be, but nothing was there except debris. The boy had been swept further down. His cries were heard, and Detectives Sparkes and Dengate again went into the underground drain. By this time, the drain was almost completely filled with water. They went to a place where six drains intersected. Detective Sparkes then heard the boy: "I could hear his screams. It was the screams of a dying child, screaming for his life. I never want to hear anything like that again as long as I live. It was absolutely terrifying." The two detectives searched each drain. Detective Sparkes said, "It was pitch black and freezing cold. The screams echoed round and round. That's what drove me on. After crawling some 30 metres against the flow of the storm water pipe, I found him hanging onto a piece of timber, absolutely terrified, and yelled to him to let go. I grabbed him, wrapped him in my arms and I told him to thank God and then we just wept." Also helping in the rescue was Michael (Mick) Marr of the New South Wales Ambulance Service, who had also entered the drain and assisted Detective Sparkes. Later, Detective Sparkes wrote, "It is a matter of record that I received the Cross of Valour, Australia's highest award for Bravery, Gavin [Dengate] received the Star of Courage, Australia's second highest award for Bravery and Michael [Marr] received the Medal for Bravery, Australia's third highest award for Bravery. [...] I think it is fair to say, in my mind at least, that no award has sufficiently recognised the fact that Gavin was ultimately responsible for saving my life that day [by using the lifeline to get Detective Sparkes out of danger] as well as Jai's life." (140)

Hero Gives Life to Save Five-Year-Old Girl He Doesn't Know

On 26 May 2012, a five-year-old girl from London nearly drowned when she drifted in an inflatable ring away from the beach at West Wittering in West Sussex, England. Plamen Petkov, a 32-year-old man from Bulgaria who lived in Sutton, Surrey, England, got to her and got her to a woman from Guildford who took her to shore. Mr. Petkov was then dragged away by a powerful current and drowned. Lifeguards and a doctor and paramedic from an air ambulance tried but failed to resuscitate him. Neither Mr. Petkov nor the woman knew the girl from London. A spokesman for Sussex Police said, "The man was able to reach the child and pass her on to the woman who was able to bring the child safely back to her family on the shore. Tragically the man was unable to reach the shore himself and was recovered unconscious from the water by others at the scene. Witness Richard Pike said, "I saw two ambulances, a police car, and coastguard rushing to the beach. I heard from lifeguards that they thought the man was Bulgarian and he had been at the beach with a girl. They said they hadn't seen him struggling in the water but had been alerted by a shout for help and dragged him in." Family members released a statement that said in part, "His display of concern for others was typical of the man we all knew and the way he lived his life. We are grateful for the messages of support from everyone Plamen came into contact with both in and out of work. He leaves a huge gap in our lives and will be missed by us all." (141)

" **What They Did was Amazing"**

A 45-year-old man who was a novice boater took his four children boating in the Manukau Harbour in New Zealand. The dinghy capsized, and the man was presumed drowned. The body of his seven-year-old son was recovered. Three men—a firefighter and two bystanders— heroically rescued the other three children. Mangere firefighter John Beswick praised the two bystanders, Alan Godfrey and Dennis (no last name given), for their help in rescuing the children. Mr. Beswick said, "It was really fantastic that Alan had jumped in because he actually had his son there with him, he was going for a walk with his son, his son had asked him not to go and I believe he's said he's got to." Dennis is also believed to have fathered children. Mr. Beswick added, "What they did was amazing considering what they had to lose and they had no training." Eyewitness Angela O'Donnell said. "All those poor kids were yelling out, 'Can you help us? Can you get us out? We're cold.'" The three children were clinging to pylons below the bridge, and Mr. Beswick was lowered into the water. Alan and Dennis were already below the bridge assisting the children. Mr. Beswick and others were able to get Alan and Dennis and the children on land. Mr. Beswick said, "It was lovely for them [Alan and Dennis] all just to make sure that they [the children] were all okay. From what I could tell, the children that I saw almost didn't know what hit them, which was understandable." Mr. Beswick added, "I think probably out of everyone there I had the easiest job." The man and his children were not wearing lifejackets. Apparently, the dinghy struck a motorway bridge pile and then took on water. After the rescue, Amelia Wade of the _New Zealand Herald_ talked to the heroes. Alan Godfrey and his son, age 12, were on the bridge to fish when they noticed a boat go under the bridge. Mr. Godfrey said, "Then I looked up and saw a guy [Dennis] starting to get undressed and that the boat wasn't there any more—it was under the water. I heard all these people screaming, kids screaming and yelling for help. They were waving, trying to get everyone's attention, trying to get help." The man finished undressing and jumped into the water and swam to the children. Mr. Godfrey had a camera with him. He used it to focus on the swimmer. Mr. Godfrey said, "I could see the other guy who was swimming over to them was struggling; I found out later he had a shoulder injury. I'm not a very good swimmer, but I thought I was strong enough. So I stripped down, too. I took off my long johns, right down to my jocks, then I just jumped in." His son was afraid and told him, "Please don't jump in." Mr. Godfrey said, "But I just had to." He said that he did not feel how cold the water was. He said, "I just started swimming towards the little boy. I could see his face going under the water... he kept drifting. I could hear everyone yelling, 'He's over there! He's over there! There he is!' and I just kept swimming. When I got to him, I flipped him onto my back and pulled him to the bridge, back towards everyone." He added, "There were pylons under the bridge, and I pulled him up onto one of them and started doing CPR with this other guy, Dennis." They worked for 10 minutes to resuscitate the two-year-old boy. Mr. Godfrey said, "We kept going and going. Water kept coming out of his mouth and nose, then some food and other stuff and more water, but we kept going. Then his eyes opened and fluttered a bit." After the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter landed on the bridge, paramedic Karl Taylor jumped in the water. Attached to a harness, Mr. Taylor swam under the bridge to Mr. Godfrey and the two-year-old boy. He put a tube around the boy and took him into the harbor, where the helicopter crew winched them to land and a waiting ambulance. Mr. Taylor said about the two-year-old boy, "He was breathing—probably because of the man that grabbed him—but he was unresponsive and very unwell. [Mr. Godfrey] did a great job. [The two-year-old boy is] still alive, I don't know what the prognosis is, but he wouldn't be alive at all if it wasn't for him [Mr. Godfrey]." Mangere firefighter John Beswick spent 30 minutes in the cold water helping during the rescue. A second fisherman helped in the rescue. He wished to remain anonymous, but his sister said, "My brother did not hesitate and jumped into the water. He had his keys and wallet in his pockets, but he just knew he had to get to those kids." He swam to two children. His sister said, "He held them above the water and had to tread water until rescuers arrived." The rescue helicopter winched them to land and an ambulance. The fisherman's sister said, "My brother is amazing. He knew they were someone's children and he had to save them. It's tragic [that two people drowned], but it could have been much worse." Utu Togafau, a mother, also went into the water to help. She said, "It was a lovely Sunday [until] we heard the kids yelling for help. I've got three kids myself, so I understand. I just wanted to get those kids safe, as a mother." The day after the rescue, Mr. Godfrey rested at home, his body cut by sharp clam and oyster shells during the rescue. He said, "I'm sure anyone else would have done exactly the same thing. I don't know how anyone couldn't help. But there's still two we couldn't save. Afterwards, someone said to me, 'You're a hero,' but I couldn't have done it without Dennis." The Police Counties Manukau East area commander, Inspector Jason Hewett, said, "It was incredibly courageous of them—the water was freezing cold, it was choppy, the current was running strongly. These people leapt into the water without any thoughts for themselves and saved lives. I'm certainly very grateful to them, and I know the family is, so they should certainly be very proud of themselves and their efforts." (142)

" **You Remember the Carnage, the Devastation, the Damage, and Some of the Fears, But I Find the Thing that Really Sticks with Me is the Human Aspect of the People"**

On 10 and 11 January 2011, a flash flood that was described as an inland tsunami hit Queensland, Australia. The flash flood was part of the 2010-2011 Queensland floods. Firefighter Phil Paff, who has been trained in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), was there. On 11 January 2011, Mr. Paff and the Ipswich fire station crew he was in charge of answered an emergency call to get a man off the roof of his car at Murphy's Creek. The emergency call puzzled Mr. Paff at first: "I'm thinking: Where's Toowoomba? This is closer to Toowoomba. Unbeknownst to me, Toowoomba was getting smashed by the storm. We'd just turned off the highway on to Murphy's Creek and came to an intersection, and I looked over my shoulder at the creek coming up and thought, F***in' hell. I was the highest-ranking guy on the ground, and I put in basically one below what we call a red message. A red message is like a nuclear meltdown or a firie's [firefighter's] been killed. I just said, 'We're going to need some help,' and I turned to Mark Stephenson, who did a great job that day, and said, 'I've got to use my other skill set, swift water rescue, mate. You take command, get in this truck and get straight back up to the highway.' I jumped out of the truck and the truck did a U-ey and started heading down. Just then, a seven-metre-high wall of water went boom, right into the bridge. They put the truck into reverse as fast as it could go, and the big b*****d was roaring. It was screaming back up the road and the water started to envelop around the front of it and the water went boom." A man grabbed Mr. Paff's shoulder and told him, "There's a woman in there," and pointed to a house. Mr. Paff ran to the house, and he saw two boys and a girl on the veranda. He also saw cars, houses, water tanks, and fully grown gum trees performing cartwheels down the creek. Mr. Paff said, "Nathan, the other firie, came down, and I said I'd send a line over and he could bring the boat over. I went upstream and dragged myself across this barbed-wire fence and floated back to the house and we got her and the kids across. I never thought of it at the time, but if the house went while I was floating towards it they would have been fishing me out of the Bremer at Ipswich." He also rescued a firefighter whose foot had become caught in a drain and who could have drowned. After they had rescued the woman and children, they parked the truck near a bend in Murphy's Creek. At that time, it was calm. Mr. Paff said, "I don't know what possessed me; it must have been something in the training, but I called out at the top of my lungs, 'FIRE BRIGADE, ANYBODY HEAR ME?' Nothing. 'FIRE BRIGADE, CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?' Then I hear this: 'Help.' I ran across this paddock that was all like sludge up to your knees. There were all these logs smashed and I looked down and there was this woman about 10 feet out into the water hanging on to a tree, all her clothes are gone and she's like a mud-man, all brown. I got down close to her, and she's blue [from hypothermia]. I had to peel her arms off the tree and turn her over on her back and tow her over to the bank. Nathan had a blanket, and we wrapped her up. I asked her where she was; she had no idea." The woman had been swept out of her car along with her husband and daughter, who did not survive. They took her to a safe place and then drove through Helidon to Gatton and into Grantham. Mr. Paff said, "We saw this tour bus lying on its side in the middle of the road, and when we got out we realised the immensity of what we were in. We searched all these properties, and I don't know how many dead people we found that night. I saw so many firies who went above and beyond any sort of requirements of their job. I rang my wife to let her know where I was because she hadn't seen me for 15 hours. She asked what it was like, and I just said, 'Bad.'" Mr. Paff saw both good and bad. He said, "There's two things that stand out, and that's the resilience of the people in the face of utter despair and the appreciation. They were truly thankful that we were there to give them a hand. You remember the carnage, the devastation, the damage, and some of the fears, but I find the thing that really sticks with me is the human aspect of the people." (143)

Life Jackets Save Lives—So Do the Coast Guard and Good Samaritans

On 9 June 2012 near Cape Charles, Virginia, a 24-foot boat capsized. A Good Samaritan reported the capsized boat to the Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. Ten people were in the water; everyone was wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard rescued five people, and some Good Samaritans rescued the other five people. Everyone was taken to Station Cape Charles. Lieutenant Jack Smith, the incident management division chief for Sector Hampton Roads, said, "By wearing their life jackets, these boaters showed that they were prepared for the unexpected. This preparation kept them afloat, allowing responders to reach them in time to bring them to safety." (144)

Emergency Services Come to the Rescue in Wales

In June 2012, the middle of Wales was hit hard by flash flooding when twice as much rain as normally falls in June fell in one day. On 9 June 2012, five feet of water hit villages in Ceredigion. Thanks to the professionalism of rescue crews, no lives were lost. Crews, including those with Royal Air Force rescue helicopter, volunteers with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and over 100 firefighters and other emergency services personnel, rescued about 150 people. Almost 1,000 people were evacuated to safety; many of the people were evacuated from caravan (trailer) parks. Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones said, "Yet again, we have witnessed the impressive bravery of our emergency services. It is thanks to the professionalism and dedication of both our professional and volunteer emergency crews that no lives have been lost. The Welsh government will now work with all agencies over the coming hours, days and weeks to help ensure normality is returned to the affected communities as quickly as possible." During a visit to Talybont, a village in Ceredigion, Local Government and Communities Minister Carl Sargeant said, "We shouldn't underestimate the trauma that's affected many people in losing possessions. The main thing is we can work together to ensure we have normality returning to our communities as soon as possible." Jenny Evans, age 42, of Stafford, owns a caravan at the Beachside Caravan Park and witnessed some of the rescues. She said, "One of our neighbours, who is known as Nana Dot, had to be rescued from her static caravan. She is in her mid-seventies and had to be taken in the back of a pick-up truck. I've seen it flood before but nothing as bad as this." (145)

Saved: Three Lives in Two Years

On 13 June 2012, Sam Porter, age 19, helped pull a drowning woman—Adrienne Beames, age 70—from the water at St. Kilda Sea Baths in Melbourne, Australia. This was the third life he has saved in two years. Mr. Porter, who works at a nearby café, said, "I was out the front of the cafe and one of the staff has yelled out, and I just ran down to the water. She was lying on her back and we thought she was dead." She had turned purple. Mr. Porter's father, Rod, said, "He got her onto the beach, she was not breathing, she didn't have a pulse, she was purple, Sam forced her mouth open and apparently a fair bit of water gushed out. He slapped her on the back a couple of times, and she gurgled, and started to shallow breathe and got a bit of her colour back." Mr. Porter said, "We started rubbing her on the back and got her breathing again, she started taking shallow breaths, and we called the emergency services and they were very, very quick to respond." In March 2011, Mr. Porter pulled a woman from a wrecked car; she had crashed into a wall near where he lived. In June 2010, he pulled a 16-year-old girl who had been bullied from the path of a train, an action for which he earned a Pride of Australia Outstanding Bravery award. Mr. Porter has applied to become a Victoria, Australia, police officer. Ms. Beames, who is the first woman to have run a marathon in under three hours, said, "He's done three amazing things, and I think he will be a good cop—and we need more like him." (146)

" **Without Luke, My Daughter would be Dead. He is Our Little Hero. I Hope the Two Will be Friends for Life"**

On 5 June 2012 in Little Billing, Northants, England, Suranne Atkinson, age six, fell into a river. Her neighbor Luke Pace, age 12, jumped in and rescued her. Luke, whose mother, Sallie Shortland, is a police constable, said, "I've just started a new school, but everyone knows who I am already. They've been calling me 'hero Pace.' I've seen my mum get awards for helping people, and I wanted to do the same. I wanted to be like my brave mum." His mother said, "Luke was just so casual about it. He came back and told me, and I said, 'Crikey, are you OK?' He said he was fine, went upstairs, got changed out of his wet clothes and went back out to play. I am very proud of him. Luke will do anything to help anybody—he is very selfless." Suranne's mother, Lesley Howell, age, 44, said, "Without Luke, my daughter would be dead. He is our little hero. I hope the two will be friends for life." Luke's mother has won two Assistant Chief Constable's Commendations: one for saving the life of a pensioner in a gas-filled building and one for saving the life of a man with a severed leg artery. (147)

What is the Emergency Telephone Number for England?

One problem for travelers is that different countries have different emergency numbers. In the United States of America, the emergency number is 911. In England, the emergency number is 999. In June 2012, two Italian tourists from Pisa, Oberdan and Patrizia Cosimi, ran into trouble in England. While taking a walk on the Devon coast, they and their springer spaniel, Nino, got cut off by the tide and were in danger of drowning. They had a mobile phone, but could not remember England's emergency number. They looked through their pockets and found a receipt from a Boots pharmacy. The receipt had a telephone number on it, which they called. Dispenser Pat Askwith, age 57, answered the phone, and she dialed 999 to get help for the couple, who were airlifted by helicopter to safety. Ms. Askwith said, "I received the first call at about 4.30pm. The problem was that the gentleman was on a mobile phone and they were right by the water so it kept breaking up. They kept saying 'SOS' and telling me that they were stuck on the rocks and the tide was coming up. I wasn't sure if it was a hoax because of their accents and the bad line, but then I realised that they really were in trouble. It was clear that they were really distressed. I called the coastguard and they were luckily able to track them down and help them to safety." The Italian couple met and thanked Ms. Asquith at the pharmacy. Mr. Cosimi said, "My wife was very scared for us and Nino, who is always with us, because of the tide and the weather. We felt fantastic when the helicopter rescued us. It was very special to meet the person who helped us—she was a lovely lady. We come on holiday to England every year, and Exmoor is our favourite area, so we hope to come back in the future." (148)

" **I Told [Five-Year-Old] Tiana She's a Hero and She Said, 'No, Mommy, I'm a Lifeguard'"**

On 11 June 2012 in the public swimming pool at America Fork, Utah, five-year-old Tiana Evans saved a four-year-old girl from drowning. Tiana's mother, Emily, said, "Our biggest fear when we take our kids to the pool is them drowning." At first, Tiana thought that the other little girl was looking for her ball at the bottom of the pool, but then she realized that the little girl needed help, so she reached down into the water. Tiana said, "She grabbed my thumb, and then I pulled her up." Emily said, "I asked Tiana why she was holding this little girl, and she said because she was drowning." The other little girl's mother then came over and learned what had happened. Emily said, "She said to me, 'Please tell your daughter thank you for saving my daughter's life.' I wanted to cry because I was so touched and grateful." Emily added, "Most kids, when they're playing and someone is pulling on them, they say, 'Get away from me,' but Tiana knew to pull her up." Emily has advice for parents at swimming pools: "As a parent, you can't get comfortable... you have to watch your kids." American Fork Public Pool Manager Joey Byington said, "We want to work together, obviously, with the parents and babysitters. We want to be there for the professional aspect in case there ever is an emergency." Emily said, "I told Tiana she's a hero and she said, 'No, mommy, I'm a lifeguard.'" When she grows up, Tiana wants to be a lifeguard because, she said, "It's awesome." (149)

" **A Man Went Out Prepared, the Worst Happened to Him, and He was Able to Respond"**

On 12 June 2012, Max Young, a 66-year-old Californian sailor what knows what he is doing, was sailing alone about 40 miles west of La Playa, Mexico. A whale hit his 50-foot boat, knocking out the steering and causing it to flood. Mr. Young was prepared. He activated an emergency beacon. The Coast Guard heard the emergency signal in its Alameda, California, command center. They found the location of the signal and sent a merchant ship, which was 60 miles away from the sinking boat, to rescue Mr. Young. On 13 June, Mr. Young climbed a rope ladder that the crew of the merchant ship threw to him. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Pamela Boehland said, "This case is one of those success stories. A man went out prepared, the worst happened to him, and he was able to respond." Mr. Young was taken to Panama and then returned to his home in Sacramento. (150)
CHAPTER 4: STORIES 151-200

" **I was Like, 'Is She Okay?' and They were Like, 'I Don't Know, I Don't Know'"**

On 13 June 2012 in a swimming pool at an apartment complex in Antioch, Tennessee, 11-year-old Jermyasha Scales, an African-American, saved the life of 12-year-old Bineta Majhi, who had been swimming in nine feet of water. Jermyasha said, "The last I heard from her was she said, 'Look! I can swim in the nine feet!' Then I didn't hear any more from her." A few minutes later, someone saw Bineta in the bottom of the pool. Bineta was not moving. Jermyasha said, "I was like, 'Is she okay?' and they were like, 'I don't know, I don't know.'" Jermyasha took action: "I didn't think or nothing. All I was thinking of was getting the little girl out of the water. So that's when I went all the way to the bottom and I kind of put her on my shoulder almost and I got her up." Adults assisted in getting Bineta out of the pool. A witness said that a woman gave Benita CPR. Benita was transported to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, where she was in critical condition. (151)

" **That was the Scariest Thing I've Ever Done in My Life. Not Only Trying to Save a Child, But Knowing Her Mom was There Watching"**

In June 2012, Makenna Kolenda, age six, nearly drowned at a home swimming pool in Kentwood, Michigan, where many of her friends from church were swimming. She dived to the bottom of the pool, but did not resurface. Brandon Steenstra, age 12 and one of her friends, said, "She was just like floating around, and I just decided to go down and get her." He brought her to the surface. Brandon's mother, Delynn Steenstra, had learned CPR because of her job as a nursing home medical assistant. She said that Makenna had a pulse but was not breathing, so she performed CPR on her: "That was the scariest thing I've ever done in my life. Not only trying to save a child, but knowing her mom was there watching." Makenna revived and was alert and talking, but an ambulance took her to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for observation. (152)

" **I was Scared They were Going to Have to Chop Off My Toes from Hypothermia or Something!"**

On 20 May 2012 in Washington state, William Hickman, age 13, almost went over the 265-foot waterfall known as Wallace Falls. William, his father, and some friends were hiking when he slipped while wading to cool off and the current pushed him over a 10-foot waterfall into a deep pool of water that led to the 265-foot waterfall. William said, "I was thinking it wasn't real, like, 'This cannot be happening.' When I fell, I was in standing position with my hand up and I was completely underwater and there was a lot of space below my feet." He was able to clamber on some rocks to the side, but it took hours for him to be rescued from those rocks and moved to higher ground. William said, "I wasn't really scared until after I got on top of the rock. I was shocked that I landed there, that I was not going to go down and die." Then he waited for help. He called it "the worst waiting game ever. I'm sitting there freezing cold, on rocks for eight hours straight. I was scared they were going to have to chop off my toes from hypothermia or something!" Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Unit and Gold Bar Fire worked together to rescue him. They threw food, a blanket, and two pairs of socks to him. William saw a helicopter that was being used by the rescuers, but because the waterfall was so close, the helicopter could not reach him. Still, he was happy to see it: "I was like, crying, I was so happy. I was like, 'I'm going to get saved!'" Rescuers with fire ladders reached him. One rescuer told William, "This is going to be uncomfortable." He replied, "Whatever gets me out." They got him out. Williams' mother, Heather Hickman, got a phone call after the rescue. She said, "Their dad said, 'I got something to tell you about last night; we almost lost William.' I told him he will never take my sons to a river again. He could've died; we could be having a totally different conversation right now." By the way, as William was being propelled down the river toward the 265-foot waterfall, he remembered and used tips from a scene in the first book by author D.J. MacHale: _The Merchant of Death_. These are the tips that William followed: "Go feet first... kick off the rocks." The tips may have saved his life. Mr. MacHale, who lives in Los Angeles, called William and talked to him about books and William's rescue. Mr. MacHale said, "It's pretty cool. I just had a conversation this past weekend with another author. We were lamenting that we're given a lot of caution about what we write in books for fear that kids will get hurt. It's nice that it can work the other way, too." A rafting guide on the Hudson River in upstate New York gave the tips to Mr. MacHale approximately 20 years previously. Mr. MacHale remembered, "He said that if you find yourself in the water what you do is go face up down downriver; that way you can see where you are going." The guide also recommended that rafters use their feet to stay away from rocks. William said that talking with Mr. MacHale "was awesome." (153)

" **You've Gotta Send Everything You've Got! There's Jets and Pilots Falling from the Sky!"**

On 6 April 2012, a Navy F/A-18D Hornet crashed into the Mayfair Mews apartment complex in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Police expected to find injured and dead people. They did find two injured pilots, but they also found two heroes: Ted Laffkas and Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Beane. Police spokesman Jimmy Barnes said, "So many blessings came out of that horrific day." Mr. Beane heard the crash, while Mr. Laffkas saw the falling Hornet. Two pilots parachuted to the ground. One pilot, his face bloody, was lying on the ground. His parachute was caught on the burning building. Mr. Beane and Mr. Laffkas ran to this pilot. Mr. Laffkas shouted, "DOES ANYONE HAVE A KNIFE? WE GOTTA GET THIS GUY FREE!" They cut the pilot loose with Mr. Beane's knife, and after Mr. Beane checked the pilot for broken bones, they and another Good Samaritan carried him to safety. Mr. Beane said, "We had to move him. Things were still kind of blowing up." The pilot was able to talk. Mr. Beane said, "He kept asking if everybody else was OK—the people on the ground, the other pilot. It really seemed like his own safety was the last thing on his mind." They had to move the pilot again after another explosion. Chief Anthony Overheim of the Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team said about Mr. Beane, "It's not the first time under a high-stress event that his training has kicked in. He's not going to run away; he's going to help out where he can." Both pilots survived. A couple of blocks away, Vicky Billups and her mother heard a thud on their roof and then they heard a big crash. Their house shook. They looked out the windows to try to find out what was going on. Vicky said, "It was just such a strange sight. At first it was just confusing. Why would there be a parachute on your back fence?" Then they saw the second pilot, who had hit their house and then rolled off. Vicky's mother called 911, and Vicky stayed with the second pilot. She told him, "You're going to be OK. We're getting help." Another man, a Navy sailor who gave only his first name—Steve—arrived and helped. He said about the pilot, "He wanted his mask off, so I helped him get it off." Then the pilot asked what had happened. Steve told him, "I think you ejected. You're in someone's backyard." Police arrived, and rescue workers carried the pilot off on a stretcher." Vicky's mother said, "It was just unreal. When I called police, I said, 'You've gotta send everything you've got! There's jets and pilots falling from the sky!'" (154)

Chinese Pilot Li Jianying Gives Life to Save Others

On 14 November 2006, Li Jianying, a pilot with the Lanzhou Air Force Area in northwest China's Gansu Province, was flying a fighter jet when a flock of pigeons ran into the jet, fouling the engine. Mr. Jianying immediately radioed his commander a series of three messages: "Birds ran into my jet"... "I may be able to do a forced landing. I'll take back the undercarriage"... "I've taken back the undercarriage. Forced landing." The plane exploded during the forced landing, killing Mr. Jianying. Why didn't this experienced pilot bail out instead of attempting the forced landing? On the ground underneath the plane from the bird strike to the crash site were 814 households in seven rural villages with people working in the fields as well as in some businesses. Mr. Jianying knew that if he bailed out, the plane could have killed many people. Instead of bailing out, he stayed with the plane, and just one person—himself—died. Li Shaohua, a department head of the Lanzhou Air Force Area, said, "There were over 800 liters of aviation oil, more than 120 airborne shells, a rocket, and inflammable oxygen cylinders. If the jet went out of control after the pilot bailed, it would have been like a bomb going off, causing unimaginable loss." Zhao Linsheng, a local villager, said, "I heard the noise from above in the sky, and saw a plane flying slowly at a low altitude. I thought something must have gone wrong with it. Shortly after, it landed and slid a long way forward before hitting the riverbank. Black smoke billowed, and then there was a blast." He added, "There were two adjacent villages right below the plane, and many villagers were working in the fields. If Li hadn't made the forced landing, many of them would have died or been injured." Kang Fahui, a deputy party secretary of a local town, said, "Villagers here really appreciate what Li did to save them from disaster, and they are circulating the story among themselves. Now, the whole neighborhood knows of Li's heroic act." Hu Xiaodong, an eyewitness, said, "Had he chosen to bail out, Li could have saved his own life. But for the sake of other people's life and property, he chose to die a martyr." (155)

" **He Didn't Hesitate. The Guy was Really Amazing. This Guy was Like a Real Hero"**

At 12:45 p.m. on 19 May 2012 in the W. 72nd St. subway station in New York City, Greg Wetzel, age 40, showed his two sons (ages six and seven) and daughter (age four) what a hero is. A woman fell unconscious onto the subway tracks. Mr. Wetzel jumped down onto the tracks and hoisted her up to the subway platform. Other subway riders pulled her onto the platform. Sixty seconds later, the uptown No. 1 train arrived where the woman had fallen. Witness Trish O'Sullivan said, "He didn't hesitate. The guy was really amazing. This guy was like a real hero." Of course, Mr. Wetzel has taught his children about subway safety and warned them to stay away from the edge of the platform and away from the tracks. He said, "I guess it's mildly ironic—to do the exact opposite of what I'm preaching." He added, "It was just the right thing to do. If you see someone on the tracks, it's hard not to do something." Mr. Wetzel hopes the rescue is a teachable moment for his children: "The lesson, I guess, is they saw firsthand what happened. That should give them a healthy fear of the platform." (156)

" **How was School Today?"**

On 5 June 2012, an elderly woman fell onto the subway tracks at Box Hill station in a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Ryan Miller, a 17-year-old student at Box Hill Senior Secondary College, jumped onto the train tracks and rescued her. Mr. Miller said, "A few people started panicking, so I kind of took it upon myself to jump down and help the lady up. I grabbed her arm and said, 'We need to get you off the tracks,' and she didn't reply. She was in shock." He waved his hands in an attempt to get the train conductor to slow down (the train stopped five meters from where the rescue took place), and then, with the help of bystanders, he got the woman onto the platform. Mr. Miller said, "It was all instinct really. I was just thinking that this lady needs to get off the tracks as soon as possible. It was just all adrenaline. It all happened so quickly I didn't really have time to process the pros and cons of it all." He added, "I don't consider myself a hero. I'm just glad I was there to help, and I would expect somebody else in the same situation to do the same thing as I did." Principal Steve Cook praised the "pretty quiet and unassuming student," saying, "I think he only mentioned it to his dad when he said, 'How was school today?'" He added, "I'm delighted that a student from this college would act so bravely, but I'm delighted any young person, whether they go to this school or not, would act in such a way. It was a tremendously courageous thing to do." (157)

Good Samaritan Keeps Domestic Dispute from Escalating into Violence

On 3 July 2008 in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada, a man who is a Good Samaritan and who wishes to remain anonymous noticed that a woman and her two young children looked distressed in a park. The cause of the distress was a man who was with them. The Good Samaritan asked the man, who was later identified as the husband of the woman and the father of the children, whether everything was OK. The man said that it was, but when the Good Samaritan persisted in his questioning, the man pulled out a knife. The Good Samaritan grabbed a stick and persuaded the man to put away the knife. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Shelley Peabody said that the man then "took a swing and [the Good Samaritan] defended himself. I guess he is a former boxer or a boxer." The Good Samaritan kept the man there until police arrived. After the police arrived, the man was belligerent and charged an officer and had to be wrestled to the ground. Police believe that the Good Samaritan kept a domestic dispute from escalating into violence. Constable Peabody said, "He is a brave guy. We do want to stress, though, that you should not put yourself in any kind of danger in any way. It is serious to take the matters into their own hands." (158)

Good Samaritans Stop Rape in Progress

In October 2007 in a neighborhood in south Salem, Oregon, at just before 1 a.m., a 22-year-old woman who was walking while using crutches because she had a cast on her leg was pulled into some shrubs by a man and raped. A car drove by, and the five people—three men and two women—inside the car saw the rape in progress. The three men restrained the rapist until police arrived, while the two women stayed with the rape survivor. Police arrested the suspect and charged him with first-degree rape. The rape survivor was taken to an area hospital. (159)

" **I Think They Knew They Messed With The Wrong Girl"**

On 15 June 2012, Priscilla Dang, age 23, was running in her neighborhood in Vancouver, Washington, when two teenage boys on bicycles approached her. Ms. Dang said, "One went in front and made eye contact with me like a smirk, like I thought he was saying, 'Hi.' The next thing I knew I was pretty much groped on my bottom behind left side" by the other boy. For the past 18 years, Ms. Dang's older brother has been teaching her Kung Fu. Her family owns the martial arts school Summit Wushu Academy in Clackamas, Oregon. She said, "So I grabbed him and said, 'You need to apologize,' and he did." But the second teenage boy swore at her. Ms. Dang said, "It just made something snap in me—it's not OK. It's so disrespectful. She hit him in the face—twice. She said, "He started coming in for a few, and I was lucky enough to dodge his shots. I came up for another one and I got him good, and I think that upset him." Ms. Dang said that the second boy pulled a knife on her. A car stopped, and a man got out. Ms. Dang ran toward him and shouted that one of the teenaged boys had a knife, and the man shouted to someone inside the car to call 911. The boys fled, but police quickly found them. Police released the 16-year-old boy into the custody of his parents and arrested the 18-year-old boy. Ms. Dang said, "I think they knew they messed with the wrong girl." The older boy stands accused of slapping Ms. Dang's bottom. Police recommend that people avoid such confrontations. Ms. Dang said about the teenage boys' actions, "I hate when men think they can do that stuff." (160)

Good Samaritan, Mall Cop, and RCMP Foil Woman's Abductor

On 30 March 2012 in the Cross Iron Mills food court in Rocky View, Alberta, Canada, mall cop Khalid Shahid rescued a woman who had passed this note to another woman at the mall: "I've been abducted. Please help me. Call 911." Mr. Shahid informed his supervisor, who contacted the police, and then Mr. Shahid started looking for the woman and her abductor. He found them, and the woman leaned toward him and silently mouthed the words, "Help me!" Mr. Shahid said, "The fear in her eyes when she whispered, 'Help me'—that's when I realized it was serious." He had to decide what to do. He said, "It was a tough situation. It was kind of tough to approach them when there wasn't any obvious signs of distress." He approached them, told the woman that she looked pale, said he knew first aid, and offered to give her a quick medical checkup in his office. Mr. Shahid said, "I looked at the male and said, 'Is that OK? It's just going to take two minutes.' He said, 'Yeah,' and luckily when we got back to the office, the two plainclothes RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] officers were already there." The alleged abductor resisted arrest, but he was arrested. Inspector Tony Hamori of Airdrie RCMP said about Mr. Shahid, "There's absolutely no doubt in my mind had he not had the presence of mind to do what he did... that we could have had a much worse scenario on our hands than we did. It was nothing short of commendable, brave, and very quick thinking, [demonstrating] good presence of mind." Inspector Hamori said about the victim, "Obviously she was desperate, and I'm thankful it resolved this way." He added, "The victim in this case is to be commended for her resolve in finding help which contributed to her rescue, and the Good Samaritan and mall security deserve recognition for taking the matter seriously and obtaining assistance for her." (161)

Heroism and Paranoia

In June 2012, Valentine Njoroge, a columnist for _The Star_ (Nairobi, Kenya), was driving on the Uhuru Highway in Kenya. In a column, she wrote, "I saw a young woman being robbed and dragged into the bushes by three guys at this corner and instantly thought, Oh my God, she is going to be raped! You should have seen me, Makmende [a fictional Kenyan superhero] would have been so proud: I turned the corner, grabbed my yoga bag, threw it into the backseat upside down, put my hazards on, unlocked my passenger door, hooted and yelled 'get in!'" The woman got in. So far, so good. But then Ms. Njoroge started worrying. What if this were a set-up and the woman was going to pull a gun on her and rob her or worse? After all, the woman was bigger than she was. Ms. Njoroge wrote, "I asked her who she was and what had happened. That's when it hit her that she had been mugged and almost raped. Her whole body started trembling and then came the tears. Between sobs, I gathered that her name is Ruth and she had been drinking in town with her boyfriend and friends. She and her man left then they got into a fight. He kicked her out of his car near All Saints Cathedral. She was walking back into town to take a matatu [taxi] home to Embakasi when the three assailants popped up out of nowhere, grabbed her handbag and started dragging her into the park." But Ms. Njoroge still worried that this could be a set-up. She took the woman into town, gave her money for bus fare, dropped her off, and headed for home—and started feeling guilty. Ms. Njoroge wrote, "This whole incident took all of 10 minutes. In those 10 minutes, I went from unthinking humanity and the feeling that I must help her, to looking at her sideways, remembering snippets of horror stories where someone stopped to help another human being and ended up carjacked or raped." Although she had saved this woman from being raped, she felt bad because she had let paranoia take over and prevent her from treating the woman with more humanity. She concluded her column by writing, "I was disappointed to find that despite believing that I am a fearless person, I devolved into paranoia when the rubber hit the road. I am proud that I helped her, but I hate that I live in a city that has eroded my humanity to a point where I did not hug this young woman or even make sure that she got home okay. Instead, I flushed her back into the night, the night that had just attacked her, taken her bag, money, house keys and even phone." (162)

" **I Just Saw a Woman Screaming"**

On the morning of 14 June 2012, a 26-year-old woman who was jogging in the 1300 block of Diamond Street in Pacific Beach, California, was sexually assaulted by a Hispanic man who forced her to the ground and groped her. Christopher Barrera, who was one of two Good Samaritans who helped the woman, said, "I just saw a woman screaming, turned, asked her what happened. She said a man attacked her, and I just saw the man sprinting really fast... so I jumped on my scooter, tried to chase him through the residential areas but eventually lost him... it's really jarring when something like this happens in your own community." The attacker jumped in a car and sped away. San Diego Police Department Lieutenant J.P. Hara said, "Our suspect likes to grope people because of the joggers that are out." Doug Fremdling, who lives in the neighborhood, said, "That shocks me. My little sister lives over on Law Street; I got family in the neighborhood. That's shocking." (163)

" **By the Time I was Down, A Guy Already had His Knee on the Guy's Neck and was Holding Him Down and People Were Calling the Cops"**

On 2 June 2012, a Saturday, a man reportedly attempted to rape a woman as she was walking her dog near a hiking trail in Canyon Park, Los Angeles. Fortunately, she screamed for help and two hikers quickly stopped the alleged attacker. Numerous other Good Samaritans ran to the rescue and called police, who quickly arrived and arrested the alleged attacker. Bryce Bonn ran to his balcony when he heard screams. He said, "He grabbed her and sort of threw her to the ground and then tried to actually take off her pants." He added that "a bunch of guys pinned the man down... within a minute there were four cop cars here." Another witness, Evan Santos, came running when he heard the woman scream, but other heroes were already on the scene: "By the time I was down, a guy already had his knee on the guy's neck and was holding him down and people were calling the cops." The two hikers tackled the alleged attacker and held him on the ground until the police arrived. The alleged attacker was charged with assault with the intent to rape. (164)

" **Keep Screaming so I Can Find You. Keep Screaming"**

In April 2012, Zach Somerset and his friend Shawn Thompson stopped an attempted rape in Smyrna, Georgia. Mr. Somerset, who is homeless, said, "When it comes down to someone else's safety, I am going to put my life on the line to protect someone else." The two men, another man, and a 15-year-old girl were walking together. Mr. Thompson said, "We decided to go get something to eat and somehow the group got split up and me and Zach ended up in one group and they [the other man and the 15-year-old girl] ended up like a couple hundred feet behind us." Mr. Somerset said, "We heard a scream." Mr. Thompson said, "I'm talking about like a traumatizing scream that I cannot even forget." Mr. Somerset said, "I just kept repeating, 'Keep screaming so I can find you. Keep screaming." They ran toward the screams and found the other man attempting to rape the 15-year-old girl. Mr. Thompson said, "We saw her in the bushes. He had her held down, you know, punching her in the face and in the ribs." Mr. Somerset said, "I just grabbed him basically, and I was like, 'Dude, get off of her,' and he wouldn't get off of her." Mr. Thompson said, "I was like, 'You are crazy. This is a friend of mine. I am not going to let you do this, man.' So I grabbed him around his throat and his stomach and I picked him up and I told him, 'I'm going to kill you, dude. You better calm down right quick.'" The 15-year-old girl ran away, and police arrived and arrested the suspect. Mr. Somerset said about the attempted rape, "I never thought anything like that would happen." (165)

" **We were Not Brought Up to Turn a Blind Eye to Someone Who Needs Help"**

In August 1997 in Brooklyn, New York, some Good Samaritans stopped a sex attack on a 13-year-old girl and captured the attacker and turned him over to police. During a party that Earl Sullivan, age 32, of Brownsville, was holding for his 20-year-old nephew, Paul Matthias, attendees saw a girl struggling with a man behind an abandoned building. Mr. Sullivan, a security officer at Middle School 61 in Brooklyn, said, "She was saying, 'I've got to go back home. My grandmother is expecting me.' Then he grabbed at her clothes and she started to yell, 'He's going to rape me!' We said, 'No! He can't do that!'" They ran to the scene of the attack. The attacker ran. The girl was crying and half-dressed. Mr. Matthias and two other Good Samaritans tackled the fleeing attacker and took him back so the girl would be able to identify him. Mr. Sullivan said about the attacker, "I asked if he had a wife and children, and he said yes. I asked, 'How could you look at that young face and do this?'" The man broke free and fled again. Mr. Sullivan said, "He ran to a house across the street and asked for help. The people who live there looked out of the window, and I told them to call the police." Mr. Sullivan and the other Good Samaritans stood guard over the attacker until police arrived and arrested him. The girl and her grandmother thanked the Good Samaritans. Mr. Sullivan said about himself and the other Good Samaritans, who are singers in a group called NWO, "We were not brought up to turn a blind eye to someone who needs help." (166)

Two Heroes Arrive Just in Time

On 20 June 2004, two men, aged 25 and 21, cornered a woman at 5:20 a.m. Sunday on E. 38th St. in New York City. One man took her purse and put it in his knapsack, and they prepared to rape her. They had taken her bra off and had unzipped her pants and one man had taken out a condom when two male Good Samaritans jumped off a bus and tackled them after having first called 911. Police arrested the two would-be rapists and charged them with second-degree robbery and first-degree attempted rape. The names of the two heroes were not released. (167)

Stopping a Sex Attack by Shouting

Sometimes, stopping a sex attack can be accomplished by simply shouting. In December 2011 in Bedford, England, a man in dark clothing sexually assaulted a 13-year-girl who was walking on a path by a middle school. He pushed her face into a fence and told her that he had a weapon. A male Good Samaritan stopped the attack by shouting at the attacker. The attacker ran in one direction, and the girl, who was understandably terrified, ran in the opposite direction and back to her home. Police said that she did not realize that the Good Samaritan was trying to help and protect her. Police urged the Good Samaritan to identify himself and tell police what he had witnessed. Detective Chief Inspective Mark Ross from the Beds and Herts Major Crime Unit said, "It is vital we trace the Good Samaritan who came to this girl's rescue. I urge him to come forward and identify himself to police, or anyone else who may know him as he may have spoken about what he saw. [...] We also appreciate the concern the report of this incident has caused to the local community and would actively encourage everyone to be mindful of their general personal safety." (168)

Justice Triumphs: Two Rapists Aren't Laughing Now

On 13 May 2011, two convicted rapists—S. Aramagam, age 31, and Steven Lim Beng Chuan, age 22—laughed when the Johor Baru Sessions Court in Malaysia gave them what they considered light sentences for their crime. They aren't laughing now. The light sentence that they had received was a 10-year jail term and eight strokes of the cane. Their laughter was reported in Malaysian media. On 21 May 2012, the Appeals Court enhanced their sentences. Each rapist is now sentenced to a 35-year jail term and the maximum 24 strokes of the cane. Caning is a punishment that is legal in Malaysia; it is a punishment that is given along with a prison sentence. Appeals Court judge Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak told the two rapists, "It was reported by the mass media that the appellants laughed at the light sentences imposed by the Sessions Court. We must say the sentences imposed by the court should not be ridiculed and laughed at." The judge added, "Public interest demands deterrent sentences be imposed to reflect public anger over the act." (169)

85-Year-Old Woman Rescues Young Girl from Attacker

In June 2011 in Duisburg, Germany, an 85-year-old woman came to the rescue when a man, thought to be age 27, tried to push a young girl into some bushes. The elderly Good Samaritan placed herself between the attacker and the young girl. The attacker hit the elderly Good Samaritan repeatedly and, police said, "twist[ed] her arm so forcefully that it broke." Bystanders took action, coming to the aid of the elderly Good Samaritan and the young girl. The attacker fled. Police made an arrest in the case. (170)

" **I Did It Because It's the Right Thing to Do"**

On 8 December 2011 in Hesperia, California, Diane and Frank Masi were looking after their three grandchildren. Diane heard dogs barking and the power went out. She then saw her son-in-law, a man about whom their daughter, his estranged wife, had sent a message: He had said that on this night someone would die. Diane said, "He just started attacking us. He maimed my husband with a boxcutter, but I really think he was trying to kill me." She ran next door to get help from her longtime neighbor Elias Llerenas. His wife, Cassie, called 911 and he went to the Masis' house with a golf putter in his hand. Mr. Llerenas hit the attacker several times with the golf putter and broke it. He said, "I was just trying to help my neighbor." He then held the attacker down until police arrived. Diane Masi said, "He really is my hero. The cops are paid to do what they do, and they have training. This man put his life in danger with no training. He took this guy down. He put his life on the line for us, and for that I am so very grateful." She added, "We've always been close around here." During the attack, the youngest grandchild hid under a bed and the two oldest grandchildren fled from the house. The Masis' other neighbors, Tom and Pam Kenyon, sheltered the two oldest grandchildren. Diane said, "I was in really bad shape and lost a lot of blood. After I ran over to Elias' house, I remember running back home and passing out. The next thing I remember is my youngest grandchild under my arm, patting me [and] telling me everything was going to be OK." Cassie Llerenas said, "I couldn't sleep that night at all." The next day, the Llerenases began receiving text messages. Cassie said, "They were saying my husband was a hero. I know he doesn't feel that way. He feels like he was doing what anyone else would do." Elias said that at work, "They all said they wouldn't expect anything less from me." In April 2012, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department awarded Elias the Medal of Valor. He said, "I didn't do it for any medal or anything like that. I did it because it's the right thing to do." (171)

Terri Barnett, Bobby Green, Titus Murphy, and Lei Yuille: African-American Heroes of the 1992 Los Angeles Race Riots

In 1992, race riots broke out in Los Angeles, California, following the acquittal of police officers who had beaten Rodney King, an African-American man. On 29 April 1992, six African-American rioters pulled 33-year-old white truck driver Reginald Denny from his truck and savagely beat him. Four African-American heroes—Terri Barnett, Bobby Green, Titus Murphy, and Lei Yuille—came to his rescue and took him to a hospital. Titus Murphy and his then-girlfriend Terri Barnett saw the attack on Mr. Denny live on TV. The attack was taking place about one and one-half miles from where they were. Mr. Murphy said, "When this gentleman was getting beat, something was just telling me this isn't right, this isn't what it's all about. When he got hit in the head with the brick, something told me to go down there. I just reacted." They drove close to the site of the attack. Mr. Denny had managed to get back into the cab of his truck. The truck was slowly moving. Inside the cab, a woman named Lei Yuille was trying to comfort Mr. Denny. Mr. Murphy ran and jumped on the running board of the passenger side to try to help Mr. Denny. Another man, Bobby Green, jumped on the running board on the driver's side. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Green did not know each other, and each feared that the other man was a rioter. Mr. Murphy said to Mr. Green, "Who are you? What are you going to do?" Mr. Green replied, "What are you going to do?" Mr. Murphy said 20 years after the riot, "I didn't know he was thinking the same thing I was thinking. I figured I had to take him on; he figured he had to take me on. We were both over 6 feet tall. I told him I was going to drive the truck and he said, 'I'm a truck driver.' That was the end of that." Mr. Green drove the truck to a hospital that was three miles away. Ms. Yuille attended to Mr. Denny. Ms. Barnett drove a car in front to lead the way. Mr. Murphy stood on the running board the whole way, and he had to pretend to be a rioter to keep the real rioters away from the truck. Mr. Murphy said, "There were cars approaching us and swinging bats and sticks and guns and stuff. I had to pretend that I was part of the riot so that the people in the cars wouldn't try to take us on or try to take advantage of the truck again. I started beating on the truck like it was mine. The trick really worked." Because the truck windows were cracked so badly, Mr. Green couldn't see, and so Mr. Murphy helped guide him verbally. Mr. Murphy said, "Each one of us could not carry on the task without the other. Bobby couldn't drive the truck without me on the outside. Mr. Denny was attended to from the inside [by Ms. Yuille], and we couldn't drive the truck without Terry in the front of us. We all came together as a team. It was like it was meant to be." Mr. Denny survived, but he suffered permanent damage to his speaking and walking abilitities. Mr. Murphy said, "I was just helping a person who was in need. I didn't look at his race at all. Never thought about it once." Can similar riots occur again? Mr. Murphy said, "In every major city in America and in cities all over the world, the same thing could happen, until we decide as a people that we [will] work together and stop looking at things as race but realize we're all one." (172)

" **Saving Lives was an Everyday Event for Bennie Newton"**

In 1992, race riots broke out in Los Angeles, California, following the acquittal of police officers who had beaten Rodney King, an African-American man. On 29 April 1992, the Reverend Bennie Newton, an African-American, heard that mobs were beating people at Florence and Normandie avenues, and he went there to see if he could help anyone. He found a mob beating a Latino construction worker whom they had taken from his truck and beaten unconscious. The rioters had stripped his pants and underwear off and painted him black. Reverend Newton, who was wearing a priest's collar and carrying a Bible, threw himself over the construction worker, Fidel Lopez, a Guatemalan immigrant. Reverend Newton told the rioters, "Kill him, and you have to kill me, too!" The rioters dispersed. On 24 April 1993, Reverend Newton died of leukemia. Mr. Lopez said, "Last year, this good man save me. This is a good country. We are supposed to live together and be in peace." Mr. Lopez added, "He's an example for everyone." He pointed upward and said, "Hopefully, we will see each other again." Pastor Robert Caldwell said, "There are not many men in Los Angeles who would do what he did." Laverne Smith, a longtime friend, said, "A lot of us carry our Bibles, but how many really know it?" Reverend Newton was an ex-con who had turned his life from bad to good. He had spent time in prison, including San Quentin, for crimes such as drug possession, armed robbery, and pimping. Chaplain Bob Macdo said, "Every prisoner from Pelican Bay to San Quentin knew who Bennie Newton was." In the 1970s, the ex-con had a spiritual awakening. He started a carpet-cleaning business, which employed ex-cons, and he started the Light of Love Outreach Ministry, which ministered to people in county jail and on Skid Row. Randall England, a friend, said, "Saving lives was an everyday event for Bennie Newton." After the riots, Reverend Newton said, "The simplest description that I can use to describe what I've done is the word L-O-V-E. It's not about being black, white, Korean, or Latino." (173)

" **Terrorists are Neither Hindus nor Muslims—Their Aim is to Kill. We Should be United in This Hour to Fight Against Those Spreading Terror"**

On 13 September 2008, terrorists set off bombs in New Delhi, India, killing dozens of people. Good Samaritans worked to save lives, taking the injured to hospitals, informing relatives of the injured, and leaving to help other people. Krishan Das, a Hindu, saved the life of Shoaib Khan, a 27-year-old mobile phone dealer, who was lying on the Gaffar Market road after being injured by a bomb blast. Mohammed Naim, Shoaib's relative, said, "I received a call from one Krishan Das saying my brother-in-law was injured in the blast and was being taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. When we reached here [at the hospital], Shoaib was in the emergency ward and that person [Krishan Das] had already left." He added, "A Hindu saved the life of my brother-in-law [a Muslim], and he is like god for us. Terrorists are neither Hindus nor Muslims—their aim is to kill. We should be united in this hour to fight against those spreading terror." In addition, a stranger named Gaurav took mortally wounded Amit Saxena, age 25, who worked with an IT firm, to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where he died. Amit's friend Pradeep Kumar said, "When we came to the hospital, he was being operated upon. Around midnight, doctors told us that Saxena has died." National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers donated blood, and other volunteers in the hospital served bread and tea to people waiting to hear news of their relatives and friends. The Bhai Daya Singh Charitable Foundation, an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), donated the use of its ambulances to carry the dead to crematoriums. (174)

" **The Voices were Saying, 'Help Us!' and 'Get a Knife!'"**

On 15 June 2012, two armed robbers entered the Barmooda nightclub building on the corner of Lower Main and Station roads in Observatory, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The robbers tied up four cleaners and apparently set off gasoline bombs. A 21-year-old female film student who did not wish to be named became a hero when she freed the cleaners and saved them from almost certainly being burned alive. She heard a noise at 2:30 a.m. while working on the floor above the Barmooda nightclub. She said, "It sounded like a truck had hit the building. I was very confused and panicked. But I immediately called the police" and asked them to "send everyone and everything they could send." She added, "There was smoke billowing through the floor boards and it was busy filling up quickly. I knew I had to get out.... That's when I heard the panicked voices." The voices were saying, "Help us!" and "Get a knife!" She got a knife and made her way through smoke to the tied-up cleaners, using the light from her cellphone to help her see. She said, "Luckily I found the people, their hands tied behind their backs with cable ties. I was worried. I could not see their faces. I think it was three men and a woman who were locked in. I never even saw their faces; there was smoke everywhere, and it was hard to breathe." The woman did not know who these people were or what would happen to her if she set them free, but she set them free nevertheless. Two of the men she freed forced open a gate that led outside. The woman said, "When I went outside, I saw my brother, and that was the last I saw of the people I'd rescued." She added, "It was just unreal, I was freaking out, and the harsh reality of what would have happened to those people is yet to sink in." Police spokesman Captain F.C. van Wyk said, "The suspects pointed firearms at them [the four cleaners], handcuffed them, and took them to the back of the building. The cleaners were robbed of their cellphones and personal belongings." The police believe that the armed robbers set the building on fire with gasoline bombs. (175)

Three Heroes, Three Crimes, Three Suspects Arrested

On 18 June 2012 at a gas station in Oakland, California, Robb Revelli, a 26-year-old carpenter, saw a man knock a 90-year-old Central Valley widow to the ground, steal her wallet, and take off running. Mr. Revelli said that the woman was "yelling in pain. I thought she had broken her hip. I asked her if she wanted to go to a hospital or if she wanted to catch [the man]. She said, 'Let's catch him!'" Mr. Revelli and the woman got in his car and chased the thief. They caught up with him, and Mr. Revelli jumped out of the car and fought him. Mr. Revelli said, "I caught him in a headlock, and he started throwing money at me. He kept fighting the whole time. I had scratches on my face." Police arrived and arrested the suspect. Mr. Revelli said that the widow was "super thankful, but she was also my partner. Without her, we wouldn't have caught him." He added, "More people need to stand up to those things. [...] I've lived in Oakland my whole life. It goes with the territory. I don't follow those rules of 'don't talk to police or don't help.' I know what police go through now." The woman said, "I was scared. That minute I didn't feel anything. I was shaking. I was out of breath. I prayed." She added that Mr. Revelli's action "was wonderful. I don't know how to say thank you. He exposed his own life. I consider him a hero. I didn't think anyone would do that for somebody. It's a good feeling." On the same day in Oakland, other heroic actions occurred in response to crimes. Two people, one a 16-year-old boy with a BB gun, confronted and tried to rob a 29-year-old woman who was walking to work. They tried to grab her cellphone and purse, but she screamed and they ran away. A 27-year-old man who was jogging nearby heard her scream and chased the 16-year-old boy, who dropped the BB gun. The jogger picked up the BB gun and then captured the boy and held him until police arrived. Police are looking for the other suspect. In a third crime attempt, a man tried to snatch a gold necklace being worn by a 40-year-old Concord woman. Her husband chased but lost the suspect. A 44-year-old man pursued the suspect and caught him, and the police arrested the suspect. Police Officer Johnna Watson commended all three Good Samaritans but stressed the importance of safety: "We're glad for the community involvement, but we remind people their individual safety is paramount." (176)

" **It Surprised None of Us that He [Bobby Butler] was Trying to Help Someone When He Died"**

Being a Good Samaritan can be unbelievably dangerous. Bobby Butler, age 55, was an African-American ex-con who had spent years in prison for drug offences. Five months out of prison in November 2010, he had a job, was free of drugs, and was attending church. He had turned his life around. On 22 November 2010, he witnessed a thief in Lawndale, on the west side of Chicago, Illinois. A thief had snatched the purse of a young woman, and he ran to help her. The thief shot him in the chest, and he died during surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital. The hero's brother, Jeffrey Butler, said about him, "When he got out of prison, we had a big long talk. He regretted that he wasn't there when his other brother died of cancer, and he really wanted to make a difference—but he'd have helped this woman even when he wasn't in his right frame of mind, before he got clean. It's just how he was." Mr. Butler had shouted "Hey! Hey!" and started moving toward the thief when he was shot. An eyewitness said, "There was one shot, and as the shooter ran away down the alley, he [Mr. Butler] was lying in the middle of the street, saying, 'I can't feel my legs!'" Mr. Butler and his roommate, Arthur Railey, had just the day before gotten into an argument with a group of teenage gang-bangers who had cut them off in their car. Mr. Butler warned Mr. Railey, "These kids will shoot you over anything." Mr. Railey said about Mr. Butler's act of heroism, "I think his pride would not let him watch someone treat a woman that way in front of him." Mr. Butler's boss, David Gronowski, "It surprised none of us that he was trying to help someone when he died." Mr. Butler's niece, Tameka Herred, said, "I've never seen anyone so happy to have a paycheck and be able to pay the rent." When you witness a violent crime, it is best, if you can, to call the police. They are trained to handle such situations, and they value the safety of civilians. (177)

" **He was a Brave Little Kid"**

On 21 June 2012, three teenagers broke into the home of 11-year-old Luis Gutierrez Jr. in Hollywood, Florida, five minutes after his father had left to get meals for the two of them. The boy hid in his bedroom and called his father, and then the boy called 911. The emergency operator asked, "Are you alone inside the house?" Luis Jr. whispered, "Yes." The operator asked, "Is the person inside the house?" He replied, "Yes, yes, ma'am." Luis Jr. said that when his father left to get food, "I was watching TV. I went to get something to drink when I saw somebody throw a hammer like through a window." His father said, "That's when he called me. He said 'Dad, there's someone knocking on the front of our house very hard,' and I said, 'Do not open that door.' Then a minute later he goes, 'Dad, someone threw something. They broke the window.' I said, 'Which window?' He said, 'The kitchen window.' I said, 'Call 911.'" Luis Jr. got his dog, Cookie, hid, and called 911. The emergency operator asked, "What are you doing?" He replied, "Hiding." He said later, "First, I thought it was two people but there were three. They were yelling across the room. I couldn't really hear them. I had to whisper to the operator so I wouldn't get caught." The three teenagers stole gold jewelry and tore up items in the house, including Luis' fifth-grade graduation awards. Luis' father had also called 911. He said, "I felt like I was driving from here to Orlando [a long distance]. I mean, when the operator told me that he was on the other line with another operator, that's when she told me to calm down." Luis Jr. asked the emergency operator, "Are the cops here?" She replied, "They are outside. I want you to stay on the phone." Police officers quietly crept up to Luis Jr.'s bedroom window and tapped on it. Luis Jr. said, "I jumped up and they caught me." They got Luis Jr. out of his bedroom and carried him to his father, who had arrived and was waiting outside, and then they arrested the three teenagers. Hollywood Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Nikki Coffin said, "He was a brave little kid." (178)

She was Set on Fire, and Then She Received a Big Bill to Pay, and Then...

On 11 June 2012, Naomie Breton's ex-boyfriend allegedly set her on fire at a gas station in Boynton Beach, Florida. She called 911 and reported, "He set me on fire!" Police arrested her ex-boyfriend, and she was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment. Both of their vehicles, which were registered to her, were towed, and the tow company sent the bill to Ms. Breton. She said, "So when I found out I owed $340, that's coming out of my pocket. Why? For being set on fire?" Actually, according to a published article, the bill was for more than $500. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan who wished to remain anonymous offered to pay the tow bill for her. Ms. Breton told the Good Samaritan, "You're going to make me cry!" Ms. Breton said about the Good Samaritan, "Perfect stranger. She didn't know me!" Fortunately, the Good Samaritan did not need to pay the bill. Andrew Zuccala, owner of Zuccala's Wrecker Service, wrote "NO CHARGE" across Ms. Breton's towing bills. He said, "I'm giving her car back, and we are good to go." (179)

" **I Want to be a Cop So I can Put Away People like Him"**

On 16 June 2012, in the Ocean Hill Apartments, a city housing project in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York, the live-in ex-convict boyfriend of Tracy Anderson, age 35, allegedly began fighting with and choking her. When her relative Kenyetta Parker, age 27, tried to stop the attack, he began choking her. Also in the apartment and witnessing the attack was Ms. Anderson's 11-year-old son, Terrance Allen, who came to their rescue. Terrance said, "I had a feeling something was going to happen. I was frightened." He added, "I didn't say anything. I just stood there for two or three minutes. I wanted to see if he would get off her. But he didn't. He was choking my cousin. She was punching him, trying to get him off. That's when I thought—I had enough." He stabbed the attacker in the back with a small steak knife, and then he ran for help. Terrance said, "I didn't look back. I just kept on going." He met a stranger a block away, and she called 911. The police arrested the alleged attacker. Terrance said, "I was shaken up. So I played _Grand Theft Auto IV_ , and it made me calm down." He added, "I want to be a cop so I can put away people like him." Asked if he thought he was a hero, Terrance said, "No, I just acted; I wasn't really thinking." Terrance has advice for other children who may find themselves in emergency situations: "Call the cops. And if you can't do that, run outside and get help." Terrance's mother said about him, "He's my only child. That's my baby. My baby boy." (180)

" **If You Didn't Do Nothing, Then Why are You Running?"**

In June 1997, Ellen Ryan, age 76, was at home in her Bronx apartment when three teenage boys—aged 14, 15, and 17—knocked on her door. She opened the door, and the teens pushed their way into her apartment. They knocked her to the floor, and they kicked her in the head. She screamed, and Good Samaritans came running to help her. John Cunningham, who was getting off an elevator, ran to her apartment and grabbed an assailant and held him. The other teens ran away, and Good Samaritans Wayne Sumlin, William Nesmith, and Elrea Walke chased them. Mr. Sumlin said, "They kept yelling at us, 'We didn't do nothing! We didn't do nothing!' So I told them, 'If you didn't do nothing, then why are you running?'" The Good Samaritans caught up with and held the teens. The police arrested all three alleged attackers. The Good Samaritans say that they are willing to help out again if a similar situation should arise, but Mr. Nesmith said, "But let's hope that one day the world will be a better place, and no one will need help like that." (181)

" **Without This Guy, I'd be Dead. They Weren't Stopping"**

In June 2012, Randy Gillingham, age 61, went camping at Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, 65 kilometres west of Edmonton, Canada. He was in his camper, but loud music and drunken partying woke him up at 3 a.m. He left his camper so he could smoke. The drunken partiers got in a truck and started speeding around the campsite. Because of the danger they were creating, Mr. Gillingham called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The police wanted him to try to get a license number, so Mr. Gillingham moved closer to the truck. The drunken partiers saw both him and the cell phone in his hand, and they attacked him. Mr. Gillingham said, "They really started beating on me then. One guy was on my back, and he lifted my chin with his left arm and started punching me with his right fist as hard as he could." A woman grabbed his cell phone and shouted, "KILL THE SNITCH! SHOW HIM WHAT WE DO TO SNITCHES!" A fellow camper who was built like a bodybuilder came to Mr. Gillingham's rescue. Mr. Gillingham said, "I heard a voice saying, 'That's enough. You're killing him,' and the next thing I know he picked them up and I could feel their weight coming off me." The three men and three women got back in their truck. One warned Mr. Gillingham, "Call the cops again, and we'll be back to finish the job." Stony Plain RCMP and Emergency Services arrived and arrested two men. Mr. Gillingham has cuts and bruises and two black eyes and is grateful to the Good Samaritan who rescued him: "Without this guy, I'd be dead. They weren't stopping." Mr. Gillingham advised people to be careful when reporting drunk drivers: "I'm trying to tell people: Don't approach them. You never know what you could get yourself into. They could want to kill you." (182)

" **She Pulled Her Car in Front of the Suspect's Car So She Couldn't Move. We Consider Her a Hero"**

In June 2012 in Santa Ana, California, a female motorist who was suspected of driving under the influence ran a red light and hit three pedestrians in a crosswalk. The motorist was driving 60 miles per hour and did not stop. The three pedestrians—a 45-year-old woman and her two daughters, ages five and six—were thrown 60 feet into the air. The five-year-old daughter was pronounced dead, and the two others suffered major head trauma. Witness Beatriz Jimenez witnessed the tragedy. She said, "They had taken about 10 steps when the car plowed through a red light. The girls and their mother were flown into the air." Ms. Jimenez followed the hit-and-run vehicle and used her own vehicle to stop the hit-and-run vehicle two blocks away. Ms. Jimenez said, "I got out of my car and I asked her, 'Do you know what you did?' And she shook her head. She showed no pain or guilt... it looked like she didn't care." Santa Ana Police Corporal Anthony Bertagna said, "She pulled her car in front of the suspect's car so she couldn't move. We consider her a hero. If she hadn't done this, we'd still be looking for the suspect and who knows who else she would've hit. It's quite apparent the suspect shows no regard for human life." Ms. Jimenez said, "I just didn't want the driver to get away without paying for what she did." (183)

Heroes of the 30 May 2012 Seattle, Washington, Shooting

On 30 May 2012, a gunman killed five people and then himself in Seattle, Washington. The attack started in a café. Lawrence Adams, age 56, became a hero when he threw footstools at the gunman, allowing three people to escape. Mr. Adams said, "I just threw the frigging stool at him, legs first. My brother died in the World Trade Center [on 9-11]. I promised myself [if something like this ever happened], I would never hide under a table." Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said, "The hero picked up a stool and threw it at the suspect. Hit him. Picked up another stool, as the suspect is shooting and now pointing [a gun] at him and hits him with another stool. During that time, two or possibly three, people made their escape. He saved three lives." Mr. Adams was sipping his morning coffee at the café when the gunman came in and started shooting. He said that he heard "pop, pop and people scrambling. I couldn't make sense of it. I didn't expect the gun to be that quiet. I thought, 'This is really happening.'" He threw the stools at the gunman, who "looked at me like he didn't [care] at all. He just moved toward the rear of the bar instead of dealing with me at all, and I just brushed past him. He was on a mission to kill my friends." Leonard Meuse, a chef at the café, called 911 for help although he was wounded. Mr. Adams said, "The hero is Leonard. He had the presence of mind as the captain of the ship to do his job. He just kept doing his job." Another person who called 911 was Jon Dowd, a customer. The gunman shot five people in the café, four of them fatally, and then he left the café and shot a woman who later died. He shot her in the head, and then he drove off in her car, first running over her legs. Witnessing the murder was Jo Ann Stremler, who first called 911 and then ran toward the victim, shouting out the car's license number in the hope that someone would write the number down. Another Good Samaritan also ran toward the victim, and the two Good Samaritans performed CPR on the victim. Ms. Stremler said, "I didn't think we could save her when we started working on her, but that wasn't the point. I knew that her family would not have wanted her to die alone." (184)

Hero Dies While Saving Lives of Two Women

On 9 October 2011 in Nashua, New Hampshire, Paul Frontiero III, an emergency medical technician, heard two women who were being attacked by a man on the street outside his residence, and he ran to their rescue. He died after being stabbed 16 times, but his heroism may have saved the lives of the two women. His mother, Cathy Frontiero of Gloucester, Massachusetts, said, "My son saw somebody in need and stepped in. It doesn't surprise me at all that he tried to intervene. He died a hero. It might have been two deaths instead of one if it wasn't for his help." The attacker was holding a knife to the throat of one of the women; the attacker had already stabbed the other woman. Both women survived. One had minor wounds to the throat, while the other suffered more serious wounds—she had been slashed on her face, arm, back, and rib cage. Cathy Frontiero said, "I know he [Paul Frontiero III] was just doing good. That somehow helps ease the pain." She added, "Paul was always trying to help others—that is what he wanted to do. He is greatly missed." Paul Frontiero worked for EasCare Ambulance Service of Dorchester, Massachusetts, studied at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, and was only two weeks away from leaving for his second medical mission to the Dominican Republic. (185)

A Machete Scar Running from His Forehead to His Upper Lip

An orphanage providing care for 37 children in Ngong, Kenya, was the target of thieves following Christmas 2011, something that, of course, the adults taking care of the orphans resisted. On 23 January 2012, a man—apparently a thief—with a machete attacked one of those adults, Anthony Omari, age 24. Now Mr. Omari has a scar running from his forehead to his upper lip. Mr. Omari has stopped thefts before, and attackers apparently came looking specifically for him. The orphans witnessed the attack. Mr. Omari said, "I'm trying to tell them [the orphans], 'Go back,' but they were not listening, so I turned and was rushing to close the door, close them [the orphans] in. That's when I think one of them [the attackers] got me with that double-edged sword—he got me in the face. So it was painful for a few seconds. But I swung my rod again, I hit him, he lost the sense of direction. I managed to close the boys in, and I passed out." Ben Hardwick, a 21-year-old Penn State student from Ithaca, New York, who was interning in Kenya, heard about the attack and wanted to meet Mr. Omari. Mr. Hardwick said, "I asked to meet him. I said, 'This is just an incredible story—a machete to the face.'" After meeting Mr. Omari, Mr. Hardwick posted his photograph (which showed the scar from the machete wound) on the website Reddit, and he asked for $2,000 to help build a new fence around the orphanage. Money poured in. Mr. Hardwick said, "I had no sleep, no sleep at all. I called my mom at 6 in the morning, I called her crying telling her we've raised $13,000 and I'm about to go deliver the best news of my life. I was sitting on the floor just watching the donations come in. I just couldn't believe it—$83,000 is what it's at now. I still get chills just thinking about it, and it's only been five or six days." Donations poured in from 46 countries, all 50 of the United States, and the _USS Mount Whitney_. Quickly the orphanage had new locks, two night guards, and a new fortified 8-foot fence around it. (And as of 2 February 2012 more money remained to be spent on the orphanage.) Martha Bosire, a 47-year-old who runs the orphanage, said, "Wow! We didn't expect this. This is amazing." Ms. Bosire called Mr. Hardwick an angel, but Mr. Hardwick said, "If they want to say God sent me, that's fine. I think Reddit did it." (186)

" **I was Tired of Being a Victim"**

In January 2012, Linette Kossow, age 50, was tired of being a victim. Someone had burglarized her apartment, and someone had hacked her email. And then someone grabbed her wallet on the 36/Broadway CTA bus downtown in Chicago, Illinois, and exited through the rear door and took off running. Ms. Kossow said, "I had a lot of bad things happen, and I was just done. I was just frustrated. I was tired of being a victim." She left her bag behind and exited the bus and ran after the thief, even though he was age 18, 6-foot-3, and 270 pounds. Two men joined her in pursuing the thief. Someone saw the pursuit and called 911. Ms. Kossow and the two Good Samaritans caught up with the thief. She said, "I grabbed him and said, 'God wants you to give me back my wallet. Please give me back my wallet. I need it.'" He took off running, and again they chased him, finally cornering him in an alley. One of the Good Samaritans chasing the thief told him, "I'm homeless, and even I wouldn't take a wallet." The police arrived and made an arrest. Officer Jose Torres, who made the arrest with his partner, Robert Michalski, said about the thief, "He had tried to go up some stairs at the back of a building but couldn't get away. He was giving up." Ms. Kossow gave the two Good Samaritans—one a homeless man and one a security guard—hugs and some money. She said, "I could have never gotten him [the thief] without the other two people and the police." Police point out that it is safer for victims not to chase criminals. A police spokesperson said, "The woman's lucky. She grabbed him. She was lucky this guy wasn't a violent guy. They had him in an alley without an exit. He's a fairly substantial man." Ms. Kossow said, "I'm sure I seem like a person who would never do anything about it. I just wanted to not look back and say that I just sat there because I've just sat there before. I wanted to at least say I tried." (187)

" **We're Supposed to Stand Up for One Another in the Community"**

On 21 March 2012, Carolyn Paige looked out the living-room window in her home in Newport News, Virginia, and saw three men. She told her husband, "I think something is about to happen—this really doesn't look right." Her husband also looked, and he yelled, "They shot him! They shot him!" Carolyn ran to her neighbor, who was lying on his stomach in the doorway of his home. The neighbor said to her, "I can't feel my legs! Am I going to be OK?" She applied a towel to the gunshot wound under his arm to slow down or stop the bleeding until paramedics arrived. Paramedics took her neighbor to a hospital. He was listed in fair condition, and police made an arrest in the case. Carolyn said about her good deed, "We're supposed to stand up for one another in the community." (188)

Big Thanks to Good Samaritan Dave

On 1 July 2012, WUSA (Washington, D.C.) employee Derek McGinty showed up for work a little beaten up, the result of a bad fall from a bicycle that damaged both tires in Rock Creek Park. He was bruised, and his elbow was bloodied, and his vehicle was a mile away. He started walking back to his car, and many drivers passed him. But one driver—whom Mr. McGinty knows only as Dave—stopped. Dave put Mr. McGinty's bike in the truck of his Subaru and asked him, "Where do you need to go?" Mr. McGinty said on a WUSA newscast, "My truck was only five minutes away, but I had the sense if it had been five miles, it would have been no problem. See, Dave was a bit like the Good Samaritan this past Sunday morning in that a whole lot of folks could have pulled over. But Dave was the one who wasn't too nervous or too busy to help a stranger. It was just a small thing. Took him maybe five minutes. But let's be real: to the limping bleeding guy in the Spandex, it meant the world. Dave, if you're out there, I wanna say it one more time. Thank you!" (189)

" **They had Never Seen Us Before, would Never See Us Again. And Yet They Did that Incredibly, Incredibly Moving Thing. It Just Touched Us So"**

In June 2012, Irma Stockton, age 80, and her husband, William, age 82, were visiting Chicago, Illinois, when they got off at the wrong bus stop and discovered that they were lost. They live in what she called the tiny "post office town" of Port Republic, Maryland, and so a big city was confusing to them. Irma said, "I was scared, because I'm not at all good with finding my way." They saw a young couple. The woman was wearing a Cubs shirt, and the Stocktons thought they must be local citizens and could give them directions. The woman used her iPhone to find the directions to the Palmer House Hilton, which seemed to be about one half-mile away, within walking distance. The Stocktons started walking to the hotel, but after two blocks the young couple caught up to them and said that the hotel was actually farther away than they had thought, and the young man called a cab for the Stocktons. In the cab, Irma saw that the meter was turned off. She asked the cabbie about it, and the cabbie said that the young couple had already paid the fare. Irma said about the young couple, "They had never seen us before, would never see us again. And yet they did that incredibly, incredibly moving thing. It just touched us so." Irma does not know the names of the young couple, but in a _Chicago Tribune_ article, she said, "Thank you." (190)

Keep the Change

Syndicated columnist Lenore Skenazy says that everyone has a story about a lemonade stand. For example, one mother told her about her children sitting in the hot sun and selling one glass of lemonade every 30 minutes. A man drove up in a sports car, gave them a $20 bill, chugged his lemonade, and then told them to keep the change. The mother said, "They talk about this guy 15 years later as some kind of amazing apparition." (And the guy got mentioned in a syndicated column, as well as in a book about doers of good deeds.) And one girl went to a block party, asked her godparents to allow her to pour beer from a keg, and got lots of tips from everyone, including the police officers at the party. The girl, now a grown-up woman, told Ms. Skenazy about her mother, "Boy, was she mad that I manipulated my way into business, but proud that I had learned how to earn money. For the manipulation, I had to buy a toy to donate to charity. For earning the money, I got to buy myself one, too. Apparently, I chose to buy myself supplies for a brownie stand." (191)

**Compassion is Alive and Thriving in** **Bozeman, Montana**

On 11 June 2012, this letter by Lela Wolenetz of Bozeman, Montana, to the editor of the _Bozeman Daily Chronicle_ appeared online: "To the good people that picked up my envelopes of bills I was going to the post office to mail. You put them in my mailbox, thank you. I backed out of the garage, forgetting I had placed them on the trunk while putting my walker in the back seat and they fell off. Thank you again." And on 20 May 2012, this letter by Joyce Armour of Bozeman, Montana, to the editor of the _Bozeman Daily Chronicle_ appeared online: "To the Good Samaritans who helped an old lady to her feet and into her car in the parking lot in back of Montana Harvest in Bozeman last Sunday morning—thank you all for your care and concern. Compassion is alive and thriving in Bozeman." And Suri McEldoon was the recipient of a good deed that followed a bad deed. She discovered that someone had crunched the front fender of her Honda Accord and had not left a note with a name and phone number. This bothered her because her family was struggling financially (her husband had been laid off in 2009 and she worked part-time at Macy's department store), had a high deductible of $500 on car insurance (the repair estimate came to $840), and reporting the accident could raise the car-insurance premium. Therefore, she wrote a letter to the editor of the _Bozeman Daily Chronicle_ in March 2012. Ms. McEldoon said, "I was trying to make someone come to their senses. I know it's a long shot. Hopefully someone would feel sorry, and say, 'I did it.'" She wanted the guilty party to do this: "At least say, 'I'm sorry.'" Her letter stated, "We understand that you may not have car insurance, but you have to learn to be responsible for your actions. You should have left your name and number so we could work things out together. It will cost us $840 to repair the damage and that is a huge amount of money for us. We are a family of three with only one person generating income of approximately $150 per week. Please, when you drive a car on the street, you are also responsible for all the consequences when you are driving. Let's straighten this matter out." The guilty party did not come forward, but a female Good Samaritan who wished to remain anonymous contacted Nick Ehli, the managing editor of the _Chronicle_ , and left a pink envelope for Ms. McEldoon. The envelope contained a note and $100. The note said, "I was impressed by the decent, nonaggressive tone of your letter to the editor and touched by your need. I hope this helps with the repair." Ms. McEldoon said, "It's the thought that counts for me. I was touched. I could never expect anything like this. It's too much to ask from a stranger." (192)

Belated Gratitude

On 20 February 2012, this letter by Tony Rubio of East Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio, to the editor of the _Cincinnati Enquirer_ (Ohio) appeared online: "Positive emotions are just as important as ever for society's health today. Here is a small contribution to this end. I came across a copy of the _Campbell County Recorder_ recently and, to my embarrassment, it reminded me that I had not yet publicly thanked an anonymous Good Samaritan who found my checkbook on a counter at the Chase Bank in Bellevue and turned it in so it could be returned to me. This happened in mid-December. I'm sending belated gratitude and may the ripple effect of your good deed encourage others to continue doing likewise!" (193)

" **May God Bless This Individual Always** **"**

On 17 January 2011, Eleanor Zimmerman of Sciota, Pennsylvania, left her purse in a cart in the parking lot of Kohl's Department Store in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She is in her 70s, and she has a disability. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan found her purse and turned it in at the store. In a letter to the editor of the _Pocono Record_ (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania), she wrote, "May God bless this individual always." (194)

Timon Hadley: A Good, Responsible Person and a Good Samaritan

On 21 June 2012, this letter by Don Challinor of Greenhills, Ohio, to the editor of the _Cincinnati Enquirer_ (Ohio) appeared online: "There are still good responsible people on our streets. When my wife fell, hitting her face on the sidewalk, I was inside and didn't see anything. However our 'white knight in a black car' did. He got control of the bleeding, helped her to the house, and called 911. Thank You, Timon Hadley! She has fully recovered." (195)

Lesley McCarthy Goes the Extra Mile—Literally

In June 2010, Heather McMurray's car broke down on the Westlink road in Belfast, Ireland. While she was waiting for the breakdown service, Lesley McCarthy from Dromara stopped and offered his help. Ms. McMurray's mother, who was in the car with her, needed to get to the airport to catch a flight, and Mr. McCarthy drove her there. Ms. McMurray wrote in a letter to the editor of the _Belfast Telegraph_ , "Lesley then went the extra mile (quite literally) and took my mother to the airport in his work van—despite it being out of his way. She caught her flight in time and I was towed off the motorway by the breakdown service. How lovely it is to know that there are still some kind people in the world." (196)

Car Trouble and Good Samaritans

When you have car trouble, it is nice when one or more Good Samaritans stop and help you. It is also nice to thank the Good Samaritans. In September 2007, Charlie and June Cosgrove of Carnmoney, Ireland, sent this letter to the editor of the _Belfast Telegraph_ (Ireland): "We would very much like to thank the kind gentleman and his son who stopped to help us when our car broke down on the busy Ballyclare Road, near Glengormley, last week. Not only did they push it into the safe haven of church grounds, but drove us home to Carnmoney. We are very grateful. Thanks." (197)

Good Neighbors and Good Businesses and a Gorgeous Front Yard

Melony Huffman, a medical assistant at Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation's Airway Drive OB/GYN clinic, is a good neighbor, and she has good neighbors in Santa Rosa, California. One of her neighbors, Kincaid Lunceford, age 83, appreciated the tomatoes she brought him from her garden. He noticed Melody's two daughters, Amber and Karissa Collinsworth, ages 13 and 14, helping their recently divorced mother. He also noticed the weeds in Melody's brown front yard and thought that something could be done about the yard. He talked to a neighbor, blues drummer Gary Silva, who told him, "I'll provide the labor if you can provide the sod." Kincaid asked for a discount on sod at the Home Depot store in Santa Rosa. Home Depot did much better than give him a discount. Home Depot operations manager Jeremiah Smith told Kincaid that Home Depot would donate 200 square feet of sod and staff would help—free—to install it. Eight families worked over the weekend to get the yard ready for the installation of sod. Mike Olivarez and his son, 13-year-old Tjay, helped rototill the yard. True Value Hardware on Montgomery Drive lent rakes to be used in preparing the yard. Neighbors donated the use of their tools as well as their labor. On 18 June 2012, 14 Home Depot employees wearing orange "Team Depot" T-shirts installed the sod that Home Depot had donated. New solar lights were installed. Flowers were placed in a wood barrel. And the Home Deport employees left sprinklers and new hoses. Karissa said, "Now we can spend time out here." Amber said, "Run around and play." Karissa said, "We really didn't have a front yard before." Melony gave Kincaid a hug and said, "The kids deserve a nice front yard. I have some wonderful neighbors." She added about the yard, "How gorgeous. It is just gorgeous." (198)

The Little Garden Guy Who Cleaned Up the Median

Dan Stevenson used to be disgusted by the median in a street near his home in Oakland, California. The median was covered with trash and discarded mattresses and "No Dumping" signs that had been covered with graffiti. Mr. Stevenson said, "It was just like a dump. And it just got tiring." But he had an idea: In 1999, he and his wife got a small concrete Buddha, and they installed it in the median, using $35 worth of epoxy and rebar [a steel rod that is used to reinforce concrete] to keep any thieves from taking it. Mr. Stevenson said, "My wife and I thought we might be able to change the direction of the energy. We're not Buddhists so we just liked the little garden guy." Things started happening. People began to leave small gifts for the Buddha such as incense, flowers, and candles. Some people prayed before the Buddha. And people cleaned up the median and kept it clean. Mr. Stevenson said, "There's no garbage now. There's no graffiti." He said that people now "respect the area." The little shrine and the median are attractive. Neighbor Ericka Huggins said, "No one ever touches the Buddha, removes anything. He is always like an oasis." Several weeks ago, someone made changes to the shrine, installing a wooden structure around the Buddha and adding a concrete slab on which people can pray. And someone complained to the city of Oakland. Mr. Stevenson said that an inspector from Oakland's Public Works Department inspected the median and "said they're going to have to remove it. And if we can find the people who put it in and everything to remove the parts, then they wouldn't have to come in and jackhammer him out." Neighbors in the area around the median sent several emails to District 2 City Councilwoman Pat Kernighan, who said, "There is a potential safety issue, which is that people who come to pray at the Buddha have to be in the street because of where it's located." She added that the city is currently (as of 21 June 2012) investigating the complaint and has not yet decided whether to tear out the shrine. She said, "My feeling is maybe if there are some downsides to it, if we could work with the community we could figure out a solution." Mr. Stevenson said that he is amazed that the little Buddha cleaned up the median and brought a group of neighbors together. He said, "I didn't realize how big he was. Because to me he's just a little guy sitting over there changing the energy." (199)

The Peace Corps of Jeffersonville, Indiana

In September 2008, strong winds swept through Indiana and Kentucky, knocking over trees and strewing debris. In Jeffersonville, Indiana, David Stemler started cleaning up some neighborhoods for free, taking time off from his day job and even spending $15,000 for a used wood chipper. He also spent about $40 a day of his own money on gas. Lots of people volunteered to work under his direction. Mr. Stemler said, "Wherever we see a pile [of debris], we pick it up." Why did he donate his money, his time, and his labor to do this? He explained, "Whenever I saw a disaster somewhere, I always wanted to go and help and work on that and never been able to, so a disaster here at home, this is my way of helping." Some people thought that Mr. Stemler was paid by the city, but others realized that he was volunteering to help other people and they have shown him their appreciation. Mr. Stemler said, "Somebody gave me a bottle of booze; somebody baked us 15 dozen cookies; somebody calls us the Peace Corps of Jeffersonville." (200)
CHAPTER 5: STORIES 201-250

" **If My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Can Wash the Disciples' Feet, Then I Can Pick Up Some Trash Around the Neighborhood"**

In 2011, Nick Acquaviva, a computer programmer, started cleaning up the litter from around his house in Bakersfield, California. Then he expanded his good deed to wherever he goes, cleaning up his community by putting litter in a five-gallon bucket. Mr. Acquaviva said, "A lot of people will honk and wave and say, 'Thank you.' People are pretty appreciative, actually." He has a good reason for doing what he does: "I kind of felt that if my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, can wash the disciples' feet, then I can pick up some trash around the neighborhood." Ken Wiley, who lives near Mr. Acquaviva, at first thought that Mr. Acquaviva worked for the city and then realized that he did not. Mr. Wiley said, "I asked him why he was doing this, and he said, 'I live in the neighborhood.'" Mr. Acquaviva said that now he does not become frustrated when he cleans an area and then it becomes full of litter again. He said that he used to get frustrated when an area he had cleaned became quickly full of trash again, but now he doesn't let it bother him: "I know there are a lot of people throwing out trash, and they probably don't even think about what they are doing, but I try not to make too many judgments on them. If you start getting angry about it, it's not good for you." Mr. Wiley said that he is inspired by Mr. Acquaviva's example: "He's got me wanting to go out and do stuff in the community." (201)

A Good Samaritan Lesson

On 31 July 2010, Mike Backman, age 48, of Quechee, Vermont, went solo kayaking and camping around and on a Lake Umbagog island on the border of New Hampshire and Maine. Although he is experienced at doing this, even experienced adventurers sometimes have accidents. In his case, while setting up his tent, he tripped and broke his radial head bone into six pieces. Fortunately, the next day seven preteen girls and two adult trip leaders rescued him. They were from the Farm and Wilderness organization, a Quaker youth organization that is based in Plymouth, Vermont. Mr. Backman, who is director of Information Resources for Alumni Relations at Dartmouth College, said, "Their spirits really lifted me up. They were such a great group of girls." When Mr. Backman broke his arm, he passed out. When he regained consciousness, he felt pain and made a sling out of spare clothing. In his first-aid kit, he found some painkillers that had expired five years previously. He said, "They worked." He thought that he had suffered a bad sprain, but the pain became much worse and he ran out of painkillers, so he was relieved when the all-girls group arrived and asked him for directions. Anna Williams, age 19, and Mary Catherine Muniz, the group's two leaders, offered a ride to Mr. Backman. He accepted a ride in the middle of their canoe, and they paddled him about three miles to the dock at the mouth of the Androscoggin River. Ms. Williams said, "There was definitely a Good Samaritan lesson there. The girls were pretty pumped to be able to help Mike and get him back to safety." Mr. Backman drove to a medical clinic in Berlin, New Hampshire, where his arm was set in a cast. Park rangers even retrieved his camping gear for him. Mr. Backman continues to go solo kayaking and camping, but he said that he learned something from this particular trip: "Watch your feet." (202)

" **If You Ever Want to Meet Men, It Turns Out All You Have to Do is Stand in Any Parking Lot with the Car Hood Raised, The Owners Manual Open in Your Hands, and a Puzzled Look on Your Face"**

In 1970, Dorothy Wilhelm moved to a new hometown. She locked her keys in the car, and the manager of her bank, a small one in Lakewood, Washington, drove her home so she could get her other key for her car. Forty years later, in 2010, she had car trouble again. Her car would not start in the very same Lakewood parking lot in which 40 years earlier she had locked her keys in her car. Her old bank was long gone, so she went to her credit union, where everyone was very sympathetic. A young woman named Jyll even showed up with a brand-new pair of jumper cables and told her, "Let's go." In the parking lot, Dorothy asked Jyll, "Have you ever done this before?" Jyll replied, "No, but I know how." The two looked at the car's owners manual and at the diagrams that came with the jumper cables, and they could have gotten help if they—make that Jyll—wanted. Dorothy wrote, "We were busily following the diagrams, as a procession of young men stopped by to see if we needed help. If you ever want to meet men, it turns out all you have to do is stand in any parking lot with the car hood raised, the owners manual open in your hands, and a puzzled look on your face. You can take your pick of fellows. I said we certainly did need help, and Jyll said that we certainly did not. She won, but I still think she could have let me keep one or two of the guys." It turned out that Jyll knew what she was doing—or at least was able to figure out what to do. The jumper cables worked, and the car started. Dorothy wrote that "you can never have too many good friends. They are rare creatures indeed, but like the folks at Washington State Employee Credit Union in Lakewood, they are there; real people [...]. There must be more like them. Keep looking." (203)

State Trooper Says that Truck Driver's "Willingness to Help This Girl could have Saved Her Life"

On 1 September 2011, a truck driver from Portland, Oregon, had a flat tire and stopped near the Nisqually River on Interstate 5 in the state of Washington. He saw a young woman, soaking wet, wearing only underwear, and covered with scratches from sticker bushes, crawl over the guardrail from a swampy area. He put her in his truck and drove—with the flat tire—to the State Patrol's scale house in DuPont, Washington, where he telephoned for state troopers. While they waited, he gave the woman, 23 years old and from Centralia, Washington—food and water. State trooper Guy Gill said that the truck driver's "willingness to help this girl could have saved her life." She was hypothermic and taken to St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, Washington. State troopers found an abandoned Jeep Cherokee, inside of which were prescription medications for the woman. Trooper Gill said, "We know she came from that vehicle. She abandoned that vehicle for some reason, and we don't know why." He added, "She had been out there for a long time." (204)

A Drunken Tribal Leader, a Good Samaritan, an Abhorrent Hotel Decision, and a Good Judge

In May 2011, Laurianne Stevens and some friends went to the Delta Sydney's Crown and Moose Bar and Restaurant in Nova Scotia, Canada. Morley Googoo—the current regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations and the former chief of the Waycobah First Nation—happened to be there with some of his friends. According to an article published by CBC News (Canada), Mr. Googoo and his friends were drinking, and Mr. Googoo was running up quite a large bar bill. According to Canadian adjudicator Ralph Ripley, "Of the $652.42 of the bill before taxes, only $59.95 was for food, leaving $595.47 of accumulated charges for alcohol. The bill also included a 20 per cent gratuity, which equals the sum of $112.58, for a total bill of $862.86." According to court documents, although Mr. Googoo ran up a large bill, the bar staff did not get a credit card authorization from him. Mr. Googoo was highly intoxicated, according to witnesses, and vomited. Mr. Googoo attempted to get a room at the Delta Sydney, but he was unable to because he did not have a credit card. Knowing that Mr. Googoo was in no condition to drive 90 minutes home to Waycobah, Ms. Stevens did a good deed and used her credit card to pay for a room for him, and she made it clear that she was paying only for the room and not for any other charges. Well done, Laurianne Stevens. Nevertheless, Ms. Stevens received a charge on her credit card of $984.82, nearly all of which she had not authorized. She then took Fortis Properties Corporation, which owns Delta Sydney, to small claims court. She won. Canadian adjudicator Ralph Ripley wrote, "It was left to the claimant as the only one that appeared sufficiently concerned about the danger to Mr. Googoo and the driving public to make arrangements for Mr. Googoo, so that he would not drive (which in law also limited the bar's potential liability from potential civil actions). After that good act, to then charge the claimant's credit card account for Mr. Googoo's bar bill, is abhorrent." In March 2012, Ms. Stevens was awarded $968.69, which includes Mr. Googoo's bar charges, the cost of filing her claim, and interest. Well done, Canadian adjudicator Ralph Ripley. (205)

Hero Saves Girl from Deadly Fall

On 3 June 2012, a four-year-old girl who had been left alone at home crawled out a window in her family's fourth-floor apartment in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. She nearly fell through the railing of the balcony, but her head got caught in the railings. She dangled with her feet in the air and was in danger of falling, but Zhou Chong, age 23, climbed along a building ledge until he was under the girl and then reached up and let her stand on his hand for 10 minutes until emergency personnel arrived and rescued her. In addition, bystanders spread and held a blanket in which to catch the little girl if she should fall. Zhou said, "At that time, she might have been dangling up there for a few minutes already, and a girl of three or four years old could not be that strong. She already had her head stuck in the railings and was already dangling there, so I thought that I could reach up my hand and let her stand on it, as she would have more strength with her feet, so then she would not be in danger." The girl's mother said, "If you were the mother who encountered an accident like this, you would be very anxious. So we just thank him very much." (206)

" **What is the Nicest/Best Thing a Random Stranger has Done for You?"**

In 2012, Esettel on Ask Reddit asked, "What is the nicest/best thing a random stranger has done for you?" Accounts of impressive good deeds poured forth. Here are three, with added proofreading and some c*nsorship: 1) Autumnrayne464079 wrote, "A few years back (like 5 or 6) I was walking home from the grocery store with a couple of bags. I lived like, 2 miles away. It was December, and it can get down to around 15 in the FL panhandle. I was poor as sh[*]t then, living above a drug dealer in my crappy tiny first apartment. I was pretty much living off of Ramen and Jello. An older lady pulled over and asked me if I would like a ride home, she would take me however far it was, that it was too cold for me to be walking. That was Nice Enough! She pulls into the little parking lot and asks me, 'Do you really live here?' 'Yes, ma'am, but it looks better on the inside than it does from out here.' I thanked her profusely for the ride home, as it was really freaking cold out. She reached into the back of her truck and handed me a grocery bag and then shoved something in my hand. She said, 'I won't take no for an answer, take this, and maybe one day you can pay it forward.' It was dark so I couldn't tell what she had handed me, and the bag was quite heavy. I told her thank you again, and I promised that once I was able, I would help someone as she had helped me. When I got upstairs, I pulled the money out of my pocket, and she had given me 300 dollars, and the bag contained a turkey. I literally sat on the floor and cried. I know 300 dollars isn't much to some people, but when you are starving to death and trying to pay 700 dollars rent on 6 dollars an hour, it really helped a lot. I've done my best to help people in need, and I always empty out what I have for beggars now. I'll never be able to give enough to make up for the love she made me feel that night." 2) Buffalo_pete wrote, "When I was 18 I was hitchhiking across Minnesota to get from my hometown back to school (fall of '99). It took me three hours to get the first 80 miles. Hotter than f[**]k outside, nobody was stopping, then it started to rain. And it kept raining. I made it to a gas station where I was camped out for a couple hours. The sun went down. I said, 'F[**]k.' It kept raining. I said, 'F[**]k.' Panicked, flat ass broke, down to about five cigarettes. Black as sin outside and p[*]ssing down rain and I was really starting to think I was spending the night in the park. An older gentleman sat down directly across from me in the booth I was sitting at in the A&W in this gas station and said, 'You look like you're having a rough day.' That guy, who lived two miles from that gas station, drove me home. 130 miles each way. Turns out when he was a kid in the '50s, he got stranded hitching through Arizona and was rescued by a total stranger. He told me the story on the road. The guy had literally been waiting for forty years for the opportunity to pay that forward when he walked into that gas station that night in 1999. When I got out of his van at my house, he said, 'Two things. One, don't ever do anything this stupid again. At least keep a twenty on you for emergencies, for God's sake. And two, one day you will know that your time has come. Remember this.' I never got his name. But I will remember him for the rest of my life." 3) Soulteepee wrote, "Many years ago, my boyfriend at the time beat me up terribly. I ran out of the house and down the street without shoes or a coat. Just a t-shirt and shorts and no money in the freezing cold. I was a drunk and a drug user and looked like it. The cop comes and he was so nice to me. He treated me like a human being. He offered me a ride to a friend's house that was pretty far away. On the drive, we talked a little. When he stopped to let me out, he asked me in an honestly curious way, 'Why did you let him do that to you?' His face was bewildered and frustrated. We stared at each other a moment, and I just didn't have an answer. He then said, 'You deserve better.' I was frozen in place, and we looked at each other for the longest time. He really meant what he said. All I could say was 'Thank you.' That cop gave me strength, and for the first time in years I had an iota of self-worth. It started me on the path to recovery." (207)

**Massachusetts Bay** **Transportation Authority Employees Save Stuffed Bunny from Being Squished by Train**

On 6 June 2012 at the Green Street stop in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, a stuffed bunny belonging to Riley, the three-year-old daughter of Casey Carey-Brown, "jumped" from her daughter's stroller and landed on the subway tracks. Casey said, "Riley just fell apart immediately. I told her we could just get her another one or something, trying to fix the situation, and she said, 'No way, that's my friend. I need my friend and now he's going to get squished by the train.' She was very upset. However, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employee Fannie Matchette came to the rescue. She said, "I called the dispatcher and they got the train driver to stop the train and we got the bunny, and the little girl was very happy." Casey praised the MBTA employees, writing in her blog "Life with Roozle" that "you really didn't have to do what you did today, but you have made a little 3-year-old incredibly happy." (208)

" **Everybody is Making Me Out to be Some Sort of Superhero. I'm Just a Normal Person. Anybody in That Situation Should Have Done What I Did"**

On 26 June 2012, Delroy Simmonds, an unemployed African-American man living in Brooklyn, missed a job interview because he was busy saving the life of a nine-month-old boy. The boy, who was in a stroller, was blown by a gust of wind onto the tracks of the oncoming J subway train at the Van Siclen Ave. station in Cypress Hills, a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Mr. Simmonds jumped onto the tracks and lifted the boy—who was still in the stroller—to safety and then pulled himself up just as the train came to a stop. Mr. Simmonds said, "Everybody is making me out to be some sort of superhero. I'm just a normal person. Anybody in that situation should have done what I did." What he was really thinking about is getting a job. He said, "I've been looking for a job for a year and change. I'm looking for something to support my family." He was heading to a job interview for work as a maintenance worker in a warehouse when the emergency occurred. He said, "A strong gust of wind blew. It had to be 30, 40 miles an hour. There was a woman with four kids. One was in a stroller. The wind blew the baby onto the tracks." The mother, Maria Zamara, stared in shock. Mr. Simmons said, "I jumped down, and I snatched the baby up. The train was coming around the corner as I lifted the baby from the tracks. I really wasn't thinking." Eyewitness Khalima Ansari, age 21, who called 911, said, "The baby had a big gash on his forehead. You could see his skull." The baby was treated at Brookdale University Hospital. The boy's father said, "He's okay.... We are thankful." Mr. Simmonds said, "It was the fatherly instinct. I have two daughters of my own—eight and five. I was being a father. I would have done it for any baby." Mr. Simmonds got a job quickly after the rescue—he was hired as a maintenance man at Kennedy Airport. Guy Rodriguez, project manager for the janitorial company, said, "It says a lot about his character that he would jump on the tracks to save a little boy. We are happy to hire Delroy. We are honored." Mr. Simmonds will earn about $2 more per hour than other new hires: $9.50. Mr. Rodriguez said, "We read the story and were like, 'Wow! This is unbelievable. This guy is a hero.'" After getting the job, Mr. Simmonds went to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, where he saw the baby he rescued: David Zamara. Mr. Simmonds said, "That's the little man that got me a job today." He added, "It feels amazing. Just seeing him alive. It's a miracle." (209)

" **My Good Deed of the Day"**

In 2012, an anonymous male posted a cartoon on Imgur—I'll refer to the poster as Mr. Anonymous—that told of a good deed that we would like to have happen to us if we were in the same situation that the recipient of the good deed was in. Mr. Anonymous went into a public restroom to pass some solid waste. The first stall Mr. Anonymous went into lacked toilet paper, so Mr. Anonymous went into the stall next to it. Without Mr. Anonymous noticing, another person quietly went into the stall without toilet paper and began using it. When Mr. Anonymous became aware of the other person's presence, Mr. Anonymous started pulling out lots of toilet paper and gave it to the other person, saying, "Bro, you're going to need this." The other person replied, "You... are... a... SAINT!" (210)

" **I Promise I Won't Do It Again"**

In June 2012, seven-year-old James Hunt played hide and seek with brothers Ethan, age nine, and Charlie, age four, but got stuck in a drinks cooler shaped like a large can of Red Bull energy drink in his home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England. His mother, Lynsey, age 31, said, "Charlie came in to get me and said James was stuck in the fridge. I couldn't stop laughing because I thought he was joking. Then I went to see and realised he really couldn't get out. James had got in the fridge with his legs crossed, then his knees became locked against the side. We turned the fridge on its side, pushed and pulled and even poured warm soapy water over him but nothing worked. After about an hour, I decided the only thing I could do was ring the fire brigade." A firefighter sat on the cooler while the other firefighters pulled James out. Lynsey said, "I've now found out that Charlie has hidden in it quite a few times. They're always getting themselves into scrapes—they are typical boys." James said, "I promise I won't do it again." (211)

Walking Around the World and Relying on the Kindness of Others

On his 45th birthday, 18 August 2000 at 9 a.m., Jean Béliveau, left Montreal, Canada, and began walking around the world, taking 11 years to do so, while his wife, Luce, stayed at home. According to his website <http://wwwalk.org/en/>, one purpose of the worldwide walk was to promote "Peace and non-violence for the profit of the children of the world," although it is difficult to tell how a worldwide walk could accomplish that. One thing it does, however, is to provide an interesting experience and many opportunities to interact with many people and peoples on this planet. He took with him a three-wheeled stroller that contained a small tent, a sleeping bag, a few changes of clothing, a First Aid kit, and some food. Mr. Béliveau had suffered a midlife crisis. He said, "I began to sell neon signs, but I wasn't making much money. I said, 'My God, what happened with my life? I'm throwing my life away.' I felt like I was working just for money and giving my soul away, and for what?" Because of this midlife crisis, he decided to walk around the world. He invited his wife to go with him, but she declined, in part because she enjoyed her comfort so much. She supported him financially during his journey, and each year she travelled to wherever he was to spend a few weeks with him. He never returned home until his journey was completed. His worldwide walk provided people many opportunities to do good deeds for him. For example, he said, "I spent almost two years walking through South America, and then I ran out of money. I didn't want to call Luce and ask for her to pay for my flight to Africa. Eventually, a Brazilian guy offered to pay for my ticket to South Africa and the trip continued." In addition, he said, "People invited me into their homes, they fed me, they phoned people 30-40 miles ahead to help me. Some people gave me money, brought me to the supermarket and filled my buggy with food. I stayed with about 1,600 families in 64 countries, but in general I'd say I spent roughly one-third with families, one-third camping, and the rest being invited to sleep in churches, temples, mosques, schools and even prisons. I stayed with criminals, killers, extremists—all kinds of people." Another example: "I needed prostate surgery in Oran, Algeria, but had no money. They said, 'Don't worry, we want to support you.' I was in the hospital for six days and they paid for everything. Even in Iran, they were amazing people. There's a difference between the regime there and the people. The people there are beautiful." Even to get back home to Canada, he relied on a good deed, one that was especially welcome because it came after a brutal part of his trip: "I spent three months crossing the desert in North Australia. It was 45 degrees (Celsius) [113 degrees Fahrenheit]. I was drinking 10-12 liters of water per day, but it was brutal. It took eleven months to cross the whole country. But then I got lucky. I went to New Zealand next and Air New Zealand offered to fly me back to Vancouver and then I crossed Canada to get home to Montreal." Mr. Béliveau believes that the trip accomplished something: "You want to do something before you die. I figured I had maybe 30 more years on this planet, and I wanted to do it. I think we helped raise awareness for peace, but I left with a humble spirit. [...] The walk was about everyone I met—people's humanity, their desire to explore the world. So many people supported me, so it wasn't just my walk—it was theirs, too. I bet people will read the story you [the journalist Dave Seminara] are doing and it will make an impact on their lives. Some people will decide to change their lives when they read this." (212)

" **As Soon as I Saw Him Bleeding, I Knew I had to Stop the Bleeding"**

In March 2012 in Edmonds, Washington, Phil Gaston was driving a garbage truck when he saw a man who needed help. Todd Nelson had been cutting boxes. He had accidentally cut an artery in his leg, and now he was bleeding in his garage. Mr. Gaston pulled over, and he used a roll of paper towels to slow down or stop the bleeding. Mr. Gaston said, "I just pressed it on like this. This is what saved his life, really." He also used Mr. Nelson's belt to control the bleeding. Mr. Gaston had taken a first-aid class 30 years previously. He said, "That and Boy Scout training is what I remember. As soon as I saw him bleeding, I knew I had to stop the bleeding." Mr. Nelson recovered, and the two men met again and Mr. Nelson thanked Mr. Gaston. Mr. Nelson said, "It was something I'm glad I had help with." (213)

Runaway Stroller

On 31 May 2012 in Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington, a garbage truck driver and an identified woman rescued a baby in a runaway stroller. Jeff Blackburn was driving his usual route when he saw a woman and a baby stroller. He said, "I noticed as I was coming around the corner that a lady was just walking away from her stroller." The woman had turned the stroller sideways, and she was walking away to talk to a few friends. Mr. Blackburn said that apparently the woman thought that the stroller was "parked and locked." However, gravity made the stroller turn and then start rolling down the incline. Mr. Blackburn said, "She was on a hill, and almost immediately when she turned the corner the stroller started to turn and roll down the hill. So I started honking the horn and speeding up so I could catch up to it before it got to the intersection, because at the bottom of the hill was a busy intersection with stop signs." He added, "When I got to the bottom, I hit the brake, got out of the truck, and tried to grab it. Luckily when I was honking the horn, a FedEx truck was going through the intersection and stopped because he heard the horn honking." He added that "the stroller was either going to go down the hill or cut into the curb. Luckily it cut into the curb." The stroller hit the curb but did not tip over. A woman who had seen the runaway stroller ran toward it and reached it just before Mr. Blackburn did. The little boy in the stroller was unharmed—and happy. Mr. Blackburn said, "He seemed to be having a great time rolling down the hill... he seemed to enjoy it." The woman who had been pushing the stroller had been running after it and arrived quickly. Mr. Blackburn said, "She came running in. She was freaked out and was shaking and... I don't even think she said anything—she just grabbed the kid and ran away. She was just really, really shook up." Mr. Blackburn said that this was a first for him: "People usually hold on to their children." (214)

" **There are Still People Who will Sacrifice Time and Inconvenience to Help Complete Strangers"**

G.P. Tay and two relatives were driving in Malaysia from Klang to USJ. They got lost, and the driver hit a curb, resulting in a flat tire. No one in the car had ever changed a flat tire. In a 10 January 2011 letter to the editor of the Malaysian newspaper _The Star_ , G.P. wrote, "Just then a good Samaritan by the name of Tan came to our aid. He also told us our exact location, so we could inform my sister where we were. When he failed to unscrew the nuts with our incomplete set of tools, he offered to go and get a foreman from a tyre shop. He came back after about 15 minutes with the foreman. In the meantime my sister had also arrived, and our problem was solved. I write to express my sincere appreciation to Tan. It is heartening to know that in this day and time, in our country, there are still people who will sacrifice time and inconvenience to help complete strangers." (215)

" **He was There when I Needed Him!"**

In December 2006 a big windstorm hit Shoreline, Washington. Mary Bartholet was driving and had a flat tire, giving a salesman named Tom at a Schuck's Auto Supply an opportunity to do a really good deed, an opportunity he took full advantage of. In a letter to the _Seattle Times_ , Ms. Bartholet explained, "After our big windstorm in December, I had a flat tire and was directed toward a tire store. Unfortunately, it had recently moved. So, I stopped at a Schuck's Auto Supply feeling rather frantic by that time because my tire was REALLY flat! A salesman named Tom offered me a product that would inflate the flat sufficiently to get me to the nearest tire store. When I got to the cashier, I realized I had left my billfold by my telephone earlier that morning, so Tom paid the bill, and then proceeded to my car to re-inflate the tire! Blessedly, the remainder of the day went well. I reached the tire store, my tire was replaced and I managed to get back to pay Tom before the day was over. Tom's kindness has stayed with me, and I recall his good deed frequently. He was there when I needed him!" (216)

" **This Guy Lost His Camera With More than 2800 Photos in Amsterdam. Who Knows Him?"**

On 20 June 2012, the father-in-law of Roland van Gogh found a Nikon Coolpix camera in the train station Amsterdam Amstel in the Netherlands. It had more than 2,800 photos on it. Mr. van Gogh posted one of the photos showing a man and a woman on Facebook along with this caption: "This guy lost his camera with more than 2800 photos in Amsterdam. Who knows him?" The caption included an email address. Mr. van Gogh also wrote, "His photos show a trip throughout Europe from about 2012-05-07. Since 2012-06-15 he stayed in Amsterdam. We would like to give him back the camera and the photos. Please Like, Share and spread this photo around so we can give him back his camera." Mr. van Gogh next posted, "I'm impressed... over 10,000 shares within 10 hours! That's 1000 shares per hour and almost 17 shares per minute. This means a share every 3.5 seconds! Thank you for sharing and let's hope we'll find him soon." The next post was this: "We do have a lead to the woman on the picture. Hope s[h]e sends a reply soon!" And this is the next post: "Looks like we found him! It's a guy from Canada who is on a trip through Europe." (217)

Lost, Found, and Returned: $250 Costco Camera with Wife's Vacation Photographs in It

In October 2009 in Bellevue, Washington, Thomas Hall lost his digital camera when it fell out of the bed of his truck. He needed it for his work as a contractor, but more importantly, he said, "It had my wife's vacation photos on it." An honest boy found the $250 camera that had been bought at Costco and gave it to Jerry Minzel, whose house was closest. Mr. Minzel created fliers about the lost-and-found camera and posted them in the neighborhood. Mr. Hall saw one of the fliers, contacted Mr. Minzel, and got his camera back. Mr. Minzel turned down a reward. Mr. Hall said, "I was just really relieved to get the camera back." (218)

Thanks, Sam's Club Samaritan

The letter to the editor of the _Press-Register_ (Mobile, Alabama) appeared on 21 January 2011: "Thank you so much to the person who picked up our cell phone in the Sam's Club parking lot Saturday and placed it on our car mirror. We were in a panic when we discovered it was lost and so relieved to find some good, honest person had found it and put it on our car so we could find it. Can't thank you enough." (219)

" **It is Refreshing and Pleasing to be Able to Talk About Those Who have been Considerate, Acted in Kindness and Done the Right Thing"**

A man took £1,770 out of his bank account so he could pay his rent, went shopping in Kings Street, Ramsgate, Kent, England, and lost the money. Fortunately, staff at the store where he had lost the money found it and promptly turned it in at the Margate police station. Police officers returned the money to the man. Sergeant Ian Warner said, "All too often we hear about people doing wrong and we condone their actions. It is refreshing and pleasing to be able to talk about those who have been considerate, acted in kindness, and done the right thing. I would like to thank those shop workers who made a very worried man's day." (220)

" **There is Still Some Decency in This Deteriorating World"**

In June 2012, Barry Eastwood, a 54-year-old grandfather, withdrew £1,000 in cash from the Abbey Santander branch in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England. Unfortunately, he tripped, fell, and broke his glasses, and all but £60 of the money went flying in the air. He said, "I fell flat on my face and looked up and saw all the money in the air flying about because a big gust of wind had taken it. I thought it had definitely gone." His son Richard, age 29, who had been waiting in the car, jumped out and grabbed as much money as he could. So did many, many onlookers, most of them between age 12 and age 25. They were from varying nationalities and backgrounds. Barry said, "The money went flying in the air. I saw all these young lads started grabbing the notes, and I thought I've got no chance here. But they brought it all back—I couldn't believe it! They were jumping up and catching the notes—it's a shame no one had a camera. There must have been about 20 lads—they were all young lads. I ended up with all the money back bar £20." He added that "people kept coming up to me and saying, 'Here you are, mate.' It was fantastic. I couldn't believe it." He even got back the passport and bank card that he had dropped. He said, "To my surprise when I counted my money up there was £980. When I got up, I was a bit dazed and had left my passport in the road with my bank card and somebody came to the other side of the car and threw them in as well." Barry added, "It was absolutely brilliant. Especially in this day and age the way people are. I would like to say a big thanks to all the people that helped retrieve my money and for their kindness and genuine show of concern. I just felt this was a story to be shared. It has given me a sense that all is not lost and that there is still some decency in this deteriorating world. Thanks to everyone." (221)

" **It's Just a Shame that People Now Think that Doing the Right Thing is Extraordinary"**

In June 2012, Kenneth and Kristy Allen were at a convenience store in Clarksville, Tennessee, when Kristy saw a bag on top of a trashcan. She told her husband, a math teacher at a public school, "'Go look at that bag—it looks like a moneybag." He looked. The bag contained $12,764 in cash, as well as a wallet and a bottle of cologne. The owner was a 51-year-old who had suffered a bad reaction to his medication and had been admitted to a hospital after leaving the money on the trashcan. They handed the moneybag and its contents over to police, who returned the items to their rightful owner. Mr. Allen has spoken to the rightful owner over the phone. Mr. Allen said, "He was grateful. He said I was one in a million." The Allens could have used the money to pay off student loans and back taxes, but Mr. Allen said that getting the money back to its rightful owner is "the right thing to do, and it's just a shame that people now think that doing the right thing is extraordinary." (222)

" **I Called My Husband and Burst Into Tears"**

In May 2012 in New York City, Jill Fink, a mother of two-year-old twins, lost her engagement ring in a park after taking it off to put sunscreen on her daughter and forgetting to put her ring back on her finger. When she discovered that she had lost the ring, she searched her apartment first, and then she remembered taking off her ring in the park. Ms. Fink said, "I called my husband and burst into tears." Fortunately, another woman had found her ring: Michelle LaPlante, an attorney. Ms. LaPlante said, "If that had been my ring, I would have gone out of my head." She left a note with her phone number on it at the park, put up fliers in the neighborhood, and put a lost-and-found item on Craigslist as well as ads on other websites. After hearing about the lost ring, Danielle Aprea, who is a receptionist where Ms. Fink works, checked out Craigslist and found Mr. LaPlante's item. Ms. Aprea said about Ms. Fink, "She was so excited." Ms. Fink got her ring back, and she rewarded Ms. LaPlante with a gift card for an evening out. Ms. Fink said, "I'm still in shock." (223)

Diamond Ring Lost, Found, and Returned

In June 2012, Dawn White of Wayland, Michigan, lost a diamond ring worth thousands of dollars at the Gaines Township, Michigan, Meijer store. She had lost weight, and the ring fit loosely. When she realized that the ring was missing, she looked for it in the store, but she did not find it. She thought that she would never see the ring again. Fortunately, an anonymous Good Samaritan found the ring and turned it in to Meijer employees, who contacted the Kent County Sheriff's Department. Ms. White discovered that her ring had been found after listening to TV news. She said, "I heard on the news tonight, 'If you've lost a diamond ring at Meijer's, call the Kent County police department. I started shaking, and before I could even get Kent County up on my computer, my neighbor lady was knocking on my door saying, 'Dawn, Dawn, call! They found your ring, they found your ring!'" Ms. White's husband gave her the ring on their 20th anniversary. (224)

" **Be Grateful for Honest People. Prayer Does Work"**

On 4 April 2012 in Sarasota, Florida, Chuck Sanders, a 69-year-old retiree who had recently lost his RV home and was now living in a $300-a-month small room, lost his wallet, which contained $360 in twenties. Fortunately, on Good Friday, April 6, he received his wallet—and money—in an express-mail package. Mr. Sanders, a retired salesman, said, "Be grateful for honest people. Prayer does work." When he lost his wallet, he had just cashed a Social Security check. He said, "I was in a panic. I had $100 to live on the rest of the month. Any bills I had would just have to wait." Of course, he was happy to get the wallet back. He said, "This person spent $5.35 for postage. I'd like to at least repay that and give them a $20." The package had no name on it, but it did have a return address: that of The Mattran Group, a business recruiting firm. But no one there owned up to finding and returning the wallet. Mr. Sanders thanked everyone there. He said, "Maybe it's kind of good they're anonymous." (225)

A Needle in a Haystack

In April 2012, Jacoba Lopez, an employee at C&D Solid Waste, saw something that did not belong in the trash: a $6,063 federal tax refund check made out to Madhavilatha Ravuri. It had been sent to a home in Clovis, California, but she did not live there. However, she was a relative of the people who live there and they gave her address to Stephanie Stone, who works for KFSN, the ABC television station in Fresno, California. She made sure that Ms. Ravuri got the check, for which she had been waiting for two weeks. C&D Solid Waste employee Richard Caglia said, "Finding that check was like finding a needle in a haystack. Literally a needle in a haystack." Ms. Ravuri gave a reward to Ms. Lopez. (226)

Good Samaritan Turns in Wallet Filled with $10,000

On 31 March 2012, a man who had recently moved to Orange County, California, from Florida withdrew $10,000 from a bank so he could pay a contractor who was working on a restaurant that the Florida man was opening. The Florida man sat down on a bench in Laguna Beach, and lost his wallet. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan found the wallet and gave it to lifeguards, who turned it in to the police—with all $10,000 still inside the wallet. Laguna Beach Police Lieutenant Jason Kravetz said, "It's nice that someone did the right thing like we'd expect and turn in this money, especially in times like this." Inside the wallet, Officer Matt Meadows found a Florida driver's license, and police returned the wallet and money to the shocked but grateful rightful owner. (227)

A Year of Thunder—and a Little Quiet

Marilee Smith of Bellevue, Washington, had suffered what she called "a year of thunder." Her father had died, and her mother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A long-term lawsuit was wrapping up. Collection agencies were after her. She had a new job in finance, but commissions had not yet kicked in. In April 2012, she lost her wallet; it contained $234—her last $234. Then something good happened. She tried to ignore the buzzing at her door, afraid that a collection agency was at the door. Fortunately, standing at the door was Jeff Meyer, co-owner of Tuscan Stone Pizza, who had found her wallet in the parking lot of the pizzeria. Ms. Smith said, "He wouldn't even take a $10 reward. It was such an amazing thing for him to do. I needed that wallet, and I didn't need any more thunder moments." Why was Mr. Meyer a Good Samaritan? He said, "I attribute it to a knowledge of the scriptures, and I feel this is one of the standards God holds us to. If everyone was honest and did their best, we would have a lot better world." (228)

" **It's a Lot of Money—if I Lost £100 I would be Gutted"**

On 30 August 2011 in Penylan, Cardiff, Wales, 24-year-old library assistant Christie Bounsall had to pay £300 to fix her broken boiler. She got the money but then lost £100 on a street. She said, "I started panicking—I freaked out. I went running down the street and was thinking maybe I had dropped it or put it in separate pockets. I started panicking—I just didn't know what I had done." Fortunately, she saw a young man of 18 or 19 who noticed her distress and asked if she had lost some money. Ms. Bounsall said, "I just couldn't believe it. I really need money at the moment, and if I had dropped £100 somewhere I was going to beat myself up about it. He was so sweet." She offered him some money as a reward, but he declined to take it. She said, "I made him give me a hug and I think that scared him a little bit. I told him I loved him and I think that scared him, too. I'm really happy that he was the person that found it—I don't know who else would have done that." Ms. Bounsall's mother, Dawn, age 57, said, "It would just be really nice to see if we could find him and give him some sort of proper thanks." They made an appeal to the _South Wales Echo_ for help to find the Good Samaritan, and the appeal worked. The Good Samaritan is 19-year-old Steffan Davis, who said about finding the money, "I thought 'I have to do something.' I picked it up and walked to the closest house, but there was no answer. And then I saw this girl who looked distressed walking down the street so I asked her if she had lost some money. I just felt [looking for the owner] was the right thing to do. It's a lot of money—if I lost £100 I would be gutted [extremely disappointed]." Ms. Bounsall said, "It was very nice to be able to thank him again in person. We just went over the story, and I thanked him a lot and tried to give him some reward money but he refused it again; he's too nice. I was a bit worried about his reaction, but he seemed quite chuffed [pleased and happy] and flattered that we had been in touch with the _Echo_." (229)

ArkhanJG: Returner of Lost Purses and Wallets

Someone on the community weblog MetaFilter asked, "If you found someone's wallet, would you return it?" One person who would return the wallet is a man who posts online using the name ArkhanJG. He wrote, "I did find a woman's bag left in a shopping cart a few years ago. I had a quick look through to see if there was any obvious contact information in it, but couldn't see any—but the purse did have quite a bit of money in it. I handed it over to the manager of the store in the hope that it would be reunited with its owner. I got a call the next day from the store (they'd taken my number)—the lady had collected it OK, and she'd asked them to convey her great thanks, as she'd just collected her pension, and was utterly distraught that she might have lost it. It didn't even occur to me to keep it. I also had my neighbour's wallet posted through my letterbox a couple of months ago—some kind soul must have found it in the street and thought it was mine. I returned it to its rightful owner." So where does the name "ArkhanJG" come from? He explains, "After using a couple of different handles, I finally settled on variants of Arkhan, usually ArkhanJG (from my initials). It comes from Arkhan the Black, an undead Liche King who warred against the living for many years in the Warhammer Fantasy world history. Yes, geek alert." (230)

Thanking an Honest Citizen

Thanking a Good Samaritan for a good deed need not take more than one sentence. For example, in December 2010, Rosemary Armstrong of Belfast, Ireland, wrote this letter to the editor of the _Belfast Telegraph_ : "I would like to thank the honest citizen who handed in my bag at Connswater Shopping Centre." (231)

" **If You Don't Earn It, and It's Not Yours, Give It Back"**

On Sunday, 20 May 2012, Adriana Allen drove up to an Automated Teller Machine at a Chase bank branch in Boynton Beach, Florida, and found money. Ms. Allen said, "I had to stop at the ATM to get some cash out, and there it was—$1,800 waiting for me!" She added, "Somebody was making a deposit, and I guess the money never went in, and it just got stuck there. I tried to push the money in. It wouldn't go in at all. I said, 'What am I gonna do now?'" Because it was Sunday, no one was in the bank. She said, "I had the money in my hand. I just looked around; there were no cars. I pulled my car up right in front of the bank, called 911. I waited until the police officer came to see if somebody was coming back to look for the money." No one came back, so she turned in the money to the police officer. She said, "I don't think I'm a hero. That's the way I was brought up. I believe in God, and I believe what goes around comes around, and that's the way it is. If you don't earn it, and it's not yours, give it back." (232)

" **Be More Careful!"**

In August 2006, David Cole, age 19, of Bellevue, Washington, ran errands and lost his wallet. He was forced to start attending Arizona State University without the wallet. His mother, Staci Cole, said, "He frantically searched everywhere he could think of. We canceled credit cards. The biggest concern, besides the money and the unused gift cards, was his driver's license. He'll be out of state until at least Christmas." Fortunately, the day after David left to go to Arizona State University, Staci went to the family mailbox and found that a Good Samaritan had left David's wallet there. A note gave the Good Samaritan's telephone number and stated that the Good Samaritan had found the wallet on top of an ATM. The note also contained a message: "Be more careful!" Staci called the Good Samaritan, whose name is Darrin, and thanked him. She also sent the wallet and message "Be more careful!" to David, saying, "That's much better than hearing it from Mom and Dad." (233)

" **There are Still Respectful, Honest, Good People in Kerrville"**

Good people still exist, as this letter from Lester Brandt of Kerrville, Texas, to the editor of the _Daily Times_ shows: "Monday, May 14, [2012,] about 4 p.m., I lost my wallet in the parking lot at Walmart. My hand and wrist are in a brace and my wallet apparently fell out of my pocket while I retrieved my phone from another pocket. I did not know I had lost my wallet until I got home. I went back to Walmart 35 or 40 minutes later, and someone had turned it in. I want to thank that individual. My wallet is full of medical information, credit cards, identification, et cetera. All $172 in cash was still there. There are still respectful, honest, good people in Kerrville. And in another letter to the editor published on 15 February 2012, someone (no name given) wrote, "There are two conscientious Tivy High School [Kerrville, Texas] teens who need to feel good about helping a man in his 80s Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m., who had a tire blow-out on Water St. Pulling off Fancisco Lemos near Thompson Drive the two Samaritans changed Jim's tire, and refused payment. I hope they will see this because we have no names, and are so grateful that help was available, and by two responsible young people (one of whom was a Texas A&M hopeful)." And here is a third letter, this one written by Ed Lehmann of Kerrville: "I am so thankful to know we have honest people here in our Kerrville area. To the person who turned in my money and money clip that I dropped at the Wash Tub—many thanks. I will give a donation to Christian Assistance Ministry in your honor." (234)

American French Fry Brother

American student Jason Loose, who is from Thousand Oaks, California, and who had been studying for nine months at Nanjing University in China, became a Chinese Internet sensation after an onlooker took photos of him buying an elderly Chinese homeless woman McDonald's French fries; on 5 May 2012, the onlooker posted them online. In China, the photographs have been forwarded hundreds of thousands of times. Mr. Loose said, "I just gave some food that isn't really even healthy to an old woman and talked with her for a few minutes. I don't see much that's newsworthy about that. There wasn't much money in her collection bowl, and it was really hot out. I walked past her and thought that maybe she could use some food and some company." He talked to her for approximately 10 minutes and poured water for her to drink. Mr. Loose said, "I asked what's her favorite food to eat?" Her answer was 'not French fries.'" On the Chinese micro-blogging service Sina Weibo, people commented, "Truly wish this was a fellow countryman" and "Chinese people, let's all learn from this." Mr. Loose said, "Love, at its most fundamental level, knows no borders." He added, "In my experiences with China, there have been numerous sweet and warm scenes in public. People offer seats to the elderly and to children, and many people like to give money or food to beggars. They are not indifferent." (225)

A Good Deed on a Rainy Day

A person who posts online using the name "lovelightbug" told a story in May 2012 about receiving a phone call from a taxi driver in a big city who had found the phone in his taxi. The phone belonged to one of lovelightbug's friends, someone who had recently moved to the city. Although the day was rainy, a busy time for taxis, the taxi driver asked for lovelightbug's address so he could hand over the phone. Lovelightbug wrote, "I guessed that if he had taken on a passenger or two he could have made some good money from driving all that distance." Lovelightbug thanked him and asked for his name so the owner of the phone could thank him, but the taxi driver said that he had already gotten all the thanks he needed. Lovelightbug gave the phone to the rightful owner, and the friend was impressed that such kindness existed in the big city. (236)

" **I Can See the Tears in His Eyes"**

In May 2010, a taxi driver in Shanghai, China, helped Robert Cassidy, a captain with China Eastern Airlines, recover some valuable camera equipment that another taxi driver had driven away with. Mr. Cassidy and his wife had called a taxi to take them home. Mr. Cassidy placed his camera equipment—valued at over $7,000 US—on the front seat and then closed the front door and waited for his wife. The taxi driver drove off with the camera equipment. Mr. Cassidy, who said, "The equipment is very important to me," chased after the taxi, yelling and waving his arms. Another taxi driver, Qin Xinhua, age 48, does not speak English, but he stopped his taxi, and Mr. Cassidy hopped in. Mr. Xinhua said, "The foreigner ran fast but was out of breath then." They followed and caught up with the other taxi at a red light, and Mr. Cassidy ran to it and grabbed his camera equipment. He said about the other taxi driver, "You should have seen the surprised look on his face." Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Xinhua then went back to get Mr. Cassidy's wife, and Mr. Xinhua drove them to their home. Mr. Cassidy did not report the other taxi driver to the police, but he did write a letter to the editor of the _Shanghai Daily_ to thank Mr. Xinhua, whom he called an "unsung hero," and he gave him 100 yuan to pay for the taxi ride. Mr. Cassidy said about Mr. Xinhua, "He is really a nice guy." Mr. Xinhua said about Mr. Cassidy, who was grateful to Mr. Xinhua for what he did, "I can see the tears in his eyes." (237)

" **We Want to Make Sure that Happiness Happens"**

The 9 Nanas, age 54 to age 72, are a group of women somewhere in East Tennessee who consider themselves sisters (despite what some of their birth certificates say) and who are anonymous doers of good deeds. Each day they meet at 4 a.m. and for three hours they make pound cakes as part of their mission in life: to create happiness. For 30 years, they kept their good deeds secret from their husbands. When the husbands finally found out, they joined in the doing of good deeds. Mary Ellen said about the origin of the 9 Nanas, "Pearl says it was all her idea, but as I remember it, we were sitting around reminiscing about MaMaw and PaPaw and all the different ways they would lend a hand in the community." MaMaw and PaPaw raised several of the women, despite not being their biological mother or father. Mary Ellen said, "MaMaw Ruth would read in the paper that someone had died, and she'd send off one of her special pound cakes. She didn't have to know the family. She just wanted to put a little smile on their faces. And we started thinking about what we could do to make a difference like that. What if we had a million dollars? How would we spend it? One of the sisters suggested that we should all start doing our own laundry and put the money we saved to good use. I admit, I protested at first. There's just something about laundering that I don't like. But I was outnumbered! So among the nine of us, we'd put aside about $400 a month and our husbands never noticed a thing. Their shirts looked just fine." When the 9 Nanas found out about a person who needed help, they would help. They might pay a utility bill or buy clothes for the children—anonymously, of course. Mary Ellen said, "We wanted to help as much as we could, without taking away from our own families, so we became coupon clippers. And we'd use green stamps. Remember those? We'd use green stamps and we'd make sure to go to Goldsmith's department store on Wednesdays. Every week they'd have a big sale and you could spend $100 and walk away with $700 worth of merchandise." The 9 Nanas often sent packages to people who needed help. The packages came a note that simply said, "Somebody loves you"—and with one of MaMaw Ruth's special pound cakes. Mary Ellen said, "We gave new meaning to the term 'drive-by.' We'd drive through low-income neighborhoods and look for homes that had fans in the window. That told us that the people who lived there didn't have air-conditioning. Or we'd see that there were no lights on at night, which meant there was a good chance their utilities had been turned off. Then we'd return before the sun came up, like cat burglars, and drop off a little care package." After 30 years, Mary Ellen's husband started wondering about the extra mileage on the car and about some large cash withdrawals from their savings account. Mary Ellen said, "He brought out bank statements and they were highlighted! I tried to explain that I had bought some things, but he had this look on his face that I'd never seen before—and I realized what he must have been thinking. I called the sisters and said, 'You all need to get over here right away.'" The 9 Nanas told their husbands what was going on, and the husbands offered to help. Mary Ellen said, "They were amazed that we were doing this and even more amazed that they never knew. We can keep a good secret! All but three of them are retired now, so sometimes they come with us on our drive-bys. In our area, all you need is an address to pay someone's utility bill, so we keep the men busy jotting down numbers." Eventually the 9 Nanas also told their grown children, and the grown children started to help, too. The children came up with the idea of selling MaMaw Ruth's pound cakes online, so they could raise even more money to help even more people. The 9 Nanas have been doing good deeds for 35 years, and they have spent $900,000 doing good deeds in their community. Mary Ellen said, "Not everyone is as lucky as we were to have MaMaw and PaPaw to take care of them, to fix all those things that are wrong. So this is our way of giving back. We want people to know that someone out there cares enough to do something. We want to make sure that happiness happens." (238)

" **Sylvia is Over the Moon and Has Written a Thank-You Note"**

In July 2011, someone stole 10-year-old Sylvia Loates' bicycle, which had been outside Rose Street Primary School in Sheerness, Kent, England. She had bought the bike herself with £150 that her late grandmother, after whom Sylvia is named, had left to her. The _Sheerness Times Guardian_ published an article about the theft, and a Good Samaritan from Rushenden bought Sylvia another bike. The Good Samaritan, Sylvia, and Sylvia's mother went to Vandal Bikes in Sheerness, where Sylvia picked out a new bike. Sylvia's mother, Zena, said, "I'm flabbergasted. There are some really nice people out there that know how much a bike means to a child. All I can [say] is thank you so very, very much. Sylvia is over the moon and has written a thank-you note." Sylvia wrote in her note that the Good Samaritan was kind like her grandparents and that he had made her very happy. (239)

" **If Every Person in This World Gave Just a Little More Than They Took in Life, the World Would be a Much Better Place"**

New Zealander Mike Allsop goes mountain climbing in northern Nepal, where he met a Buddhist monk who inspired him. Lama Gershe, the chief monk at the 600-year-old Pangboche Monastery, told him, "If every person in this world gave just a little more than they took in life, the world would be a much better place." Mr. Allsop is trying to do just that. The monastery used to own a skull and hand that were supposedly that of a yeti, aka abominable snowman. People donated money to see these items, but in the 1990s someone stole them from the monastery, resulting in the loss of much-needed income. Mr. Allsop said, "I want to help the monastery have an income again—I want to help them out." Therefore, in April 2011 Mr. Allsop brought the monastery replicas of the items to use until he can locate—if possible—the original skull and hand. Mr. Allsop said, "After spending a few weeks resting in Pangboche on various mountaineering expeditions, I thought it would be a good way to give something back to the monks at the monastery." He showed photographs of the original items to New Zealand's Weta Workshop, makers of special effects props used in the _Lord of the Rings_ movies. Employees there made the replicas out of resin, leather, and horsehair—free. Mr. Allsop hopes to find the original stolen items. He said, "If they [whoever has them now] could find it in their hearts to return these original artefacts, the small village of Pangboche would be forever grateful. Lama Gershe had a stroke in September 2010 and is slowly recovering in Kathmandu. I know he would be very happy if they were returned to their rightful home." Mr. Allsop said that he is willing to pick up the artefacts "anywhere in the world with absolutely no questions asked. In fact, I'll buy the beers." He added, "If you have them, please find it in your heart to contact me and return them. Good things happen to good people." (240)

" **Caring for Others Soothes Me. All I Ask in Return is that Those Poor Children I Support are Given Proper Schooling"**

In 2012, _Forbes_ magazine named Chao Wen-Cheng one of its Heroes of Philanthropy in Greater China. Mr. Wen-Cheng is a 68-year-old part-time cleaner at Ta Yi Iron Works in Taiwan. He grew up in an impoverished family, and he vowed to help impoverished children. At age 35, he began donating to charities, and his accumulated donations add up to $135,000. In addition to working at his job, he collects recyclables so that he can give more money to charities. He donates to orphanages in Taichung, his hometown, as well as organizations dedicated to helping impoverished children. Mr. Wen-Cheng said, "Caring for others soothes me. All I ask in return is that those poor children I support are given proper schooling." (241)

Maybe Maverickrenegade will have Children After All

A Reddit user who goes by the name "Maverickrenegade" says that he hasn't planned on having children, but after doing a good deed for a little girl and seeing the smile on her face, he may change his mind. This is his story: "I was in a restaurant this evening with some friends and there was this adorable little girl running back and forth from her table to one of those claw skill games. We watched her put in about $3 or $4 in an attempt to wrangle this fuzzy stuffed tiger toy with absolutely no luck. The look on her face when she lost was heartbreaking. My friends and I scavenged our pockets for some quarters and were only able to find 2 of them, just enough for 1 attempt. I decided I wanted to test my luck, so I confidently went over to the machine (even though I suck at claw games) and slipped my quarters in. While this was happening, that same little girl ran up and watched with eager eyes, she was barely tall enough to see into the machine. I gingerly moved the claw back and forth, trying to find that sweet drop spot over that little stuffed tiger. I finessed my way in there, placing that three-fingered claw above it and pressed the button. (If only it was that easy to find the G-spot). Reddit, I swear to you that it was meant to be. The claw grasped the stuffed tiger with the fury of a 1,000 angry vultures and dropped it down the slot. That little girl absolutely lit up. She was so excited that I had won it, and then it dawned on me; I didn't even want the stuffed tiger. I was only trying the machine for fun. I pulled the tiger out of the slot, dropped down on one knee and handed it to her. I said, 'Here, I hope you like your new tiger.' Never in my life have I seen such sheer joy on a child's face. She looked at me with her big doe eyes, made a heartwarming (mostly toothless) smile that could charm a rabid grizzly and said, 'Fank you, mister!' while she ran away hugging the small striped beast." And a Reddit user who goes by the name "Wordjockey" told a funny story about one of those claw machines: "I gave my daughter 50 cents to play the claw machine as a lesson that gambling doesn't pay. First she found an unclaimed stuffed animal in the prize slot, then she won a second stuffed animal." (242)

" **$5,000 is Quite a Generous Tip"**

After Greg Rubar lost his car in a severe thunderstorm, he started to take public transportation to get to his job as a waiter at D'Amico's in Rice Village in Houston, Texas. However, now he can buy a nice car because on 26 May 2012 two regular customers, a married couple who do not want their names to be publicized, gave him the biggest tip he has ever received in his 16 years at D'Amico's. The tip: $5,000. The cost of the couple's meals: $27. The advice from the two regular customers: "Buy a nice car." Mr. Rubar said, "He said, 'We're still going to come in, but we're not going to tip you for a while.' He said this [an envelope filled with $5,000] is for you to go and buy a nice car." Brina D'Amico Donaldson, a co-owner of the restaurant, said, "It was a bit shocking to hear that. I was like, maybe $500, but $5,000 is quite a generous tip." She added about Mr. Rubar, "He's an incredibly hard worker. He would work every shift if we would let him." Mr. Rubar said, "People can be generous. They told me I deserved it. It's overwhelming to me." (243)

" **You Never Leave a Friend in the Field"**

In May 2012, an Israeli passed up the chance to reach the top of Mount Everest in order to help an American who originally came from Turkey, although the relations between Israel and Turkey were at that time strained. The Israeli is Nadav Ben-Yehuda, who was climbing with a Sherpa guide, and who discovered Aydin Irmak near the top of Mount Everest. During that weekend, four climbers died from altitude sickness as they descended from Mount Everest. Mr. Irmak had reached the top of Mount Everest, and if not for Mr. Ben-Yehuda, he could have been the fifth person to die. Mr. Ben-Yehuda and Mr. Irmak were friends, although now Mr. Irmak was hard to recognize because he was gaunt and pale. Mr. Ben-Yehuda said, "Aydin, wake up! Wake up!" Mr. Irmuk had collapsed because of altitude sickness. When Mr. Ben-Yehuda found him, Mr. Irmuk lacked an oxygen supply, a flashlight, and a rucksack. Mr. Ben-Yehuda said, "I just told myself, 'This is crazy.' It just blew my mind. I didn't realize he was up there the whole time. Everybody thought he had already descended." For hours, Mr. Ben-Yehuda carried Mr. Irmuk to a camp lower on the mountain. Hanan Goder, Israel's ambassador in Nepal, who had dinner with the two men after the rescue, said, "They really have to recover mentally and physically. They call each other, 'my brother.' After the event that they had together, their souls are really linked together now." The two men are soul brothers, although Israel and Turkey are having political tensions. Mr. Irmak said, "I don't know what the hell is going on between the two countries. I don't care about that. I talked to his [Mr. Ben-Yehuda's] family today, and I told them you have another family in Turkey and America. Mr. Ben-Yehuda went through military training in Israel, something that he said helped him make the decision to save his friend: "You never leave a friend in the field." (244)

" **He May Not Feel like a Hero Because She Didn't Live, But to Us He Is"**

On 4 December 2011, Barbara Foster, a 83-year-old woman who lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, crashed into a stalled van on US-131 near Martin, Michigan. Ms. Foster's Chevy Malibu went into a ditch and caught on fire. Passerby Joe Kersey, age 22, said, "I could hear wrrrrr, like someone was unconscious in that car on the gas pedal. I ran to the car and opened that door and all I could do is feel, because it was all just smoke right in my face and I couldn't see nothing. So I just felt for that seat belt and I thought it was a little girl.... I pulled her out and had her in my arms." Ms. Foster was still alive then, but she was later pronounced dead at Borgess-Pipp Hospital in Plainwell, Michigan. Still, Gail Tutewiler and Carol Clark, Ms. Foster's daughters, are grateful that Mr. Kersey was there. Ms. Tutewiler said, "It's still horrible. But I'm glad someone was with her, and we're really grateful." Ms. Clark said, "I just wanted to say thank you. He may not feel like a hero because she didn't live, but to us he is." In a letter to Mr. Kersey, the sisters' four other siblings wrote, "I want you to know how sincerely we appreciate your actions." Because of Mr. Kersey's action, Ms. Foster did not burn to death in her car. Ms. Foster's brother and his wife had died in a fiery crash 15 years previously. Ms. Tutewiler said, "We're just really grateful that, even if she didn't live, she got out of that car." Ms. Clark said, "We didn't have to have that picture in our mind of her going up in flames. We know she's not facing the flames now. She was a Christian and loved the Lord, so we know she's celebrating Christmas in heaven this year." (245)

Austin Hemmings: Hero Who Died to Protect a Stranger

On 25 September 2008, a man attacked call-centre worker Diane Nonu in the city centre of Auckland, New Zealand. Austin Hemmings, age 44 and a father, came to her rescue and gave his life to save her life. Ms. Nonu said that she was relieved when Mr. Hemmings showed up, but she has felt guilty since he died. She said, "I have to live with the fact that someone died because of me. I asked myself, 'Why didn't I run back?' I fully blame myself for this." When the man attacked her, she asked Mr. Hemmings for help, and he stood between her and her attacker and he told her attacker that he could not allow the attack to continue. When she ran for an elevator, the attacker tried to follow her, but Mr. Hemmings intervened, and the attacker stabbed him with a knife and punched him several times. Mr. Hemmings died despite attempts to save his life. His murderer was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Ms. Nonu said about the attacker and murderer, "I have nothing but hate for him. He has taken Austin Hemmings, a loving father and man who has saved me." In her victim impact statement, Mr. Hemmings' wife, Jenny, said that when she found out her husband had been murdered, "We knelt and prayed together and didn't yell or scream; we were in deep shock. The act of someone carrying a knife and using it so freely showed such contempt for the gift of life." The Hemmings' daughter, Jessica, age 17 in the year 2010, said about her father, "When he was taken from us, something broke. There is a hole in our family where he should be." Mr. Hemmings was a Christian. (246)

" **His Liver was Seriously Damaged, and Three Ribs were Broken. In Such Circumstances, He Would be in Great Pain. I'm Amazed that He Could Do That"**

On 29 May 2012 in the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province, China, a piece of metal went through the windshield of the bus driven by Wu Bin, age 48. The piece of metal hit Mr. Bin, inflicting painful, mortal injuries. However, Mr. Bin safely brought the bus to a stop, turned on the hazard lights, and put on the parking brake. He collapsed, was taken a hospital, and died a few days later. A passenger identified as Zhou who had been sleeping on the bus before the accident said, "I didn't realize what had happened until I saw the blood-covered driver and the smashed windshield. The incident could have turned into a traffic accident resulting in major casualties without his heroic efforts and professional ethics." Passenger Han Weichun said, "We heard an almighty crash, but thought it might be an accident involving other vehicles. Our bus pulled over gently before Wu turned around toward us, looking pale and sweating. He opened the door, told us to be careful, and then went silent." Passengers called the police and made Mr. Bin comfortable. Passenger Liu Shibing said, "I have been driving a car for more than 10 years, and I know how difficult it is to stop a vehicle safely in great pain. We admire him and are very grateful. If he had done anything differently, turned the wheel too far in one direction, or not managed to stop the bus, we would not be here." Yu Wei, another bus driver, said about Mr. Bin, "The details of his daily work show the quality of his work, as well as demonstrate his strong sense of responsibility." Doctor Fang Zheng said about Mr. Bin, "His liver was seriously damaged, and three ribs were broken. In such circumstances, he would be in great pain. I'm amazed that he could do that." The piece of metal that killed Mr. Bin was a brake hub that apparently broke off a vehicle. (247)

" **A Hug and the Presence of a Warm and Caring Heart"**

A person who works in a hospital and who posts online using the name Lovelightbug tells about suffering a death in the family and coming home to an empty apartment and crying and falling apart and not knowing what to do. Lovelightbug ended up calling a friend: "After deliberating for a bit, I finally decided to just call my friend. I was so glad I did. Without a second thought, my friend simply said, 'I'll be right over.' I opened the door and just fell apart all over again. But just having my friend there, holding me in silence, meant the world to me. Being there, and being present, meant so much during that difficult time. A hug and the presence of a warm and caring heart. In that moment, it was all I needed. I am so very grateful for that." (248)

Good Samaritan Pays for Funeral

On 30 December 2011, Ana Nginsan, who is the wife of Ijau Abon, died of throat cancer at the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching, Malaysia. The couple has two sons, aged 10 and 11. Mr. Abon, an impoverished laborer who lives in a shack, had no money to bring his wife's body to his shack and to arrange for a proper burial. Mr. Abon makes only 200 Malaysian Ringgits a month, or $64 US American. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan who wishes to remain anonymous paid for the transportation of Ms. Nginsan's body and for a proper burial. The deceased wife's sister, Kuekla Nginsan, said, "More often than not, they had to skip meals because they have no money to buy food. Ijau's income is unstable. There are times when he would have no income at all as there was nothing for him to do. Only when he has work that he could earn some money. That too is just enough for them to buy food." Often, Ana Nginsan was unable to go to Sarawak General Hospital for treatment because she could not afford to pay for the bus. (249)

A Gravestone for a Chicago Firefighter Hero

On 25 October 1952, Chicago, Illinois, firefighter John Francis Minich, age 43, rescued 12 people from an arson fire, then he collapsed and died from a heart attack and smoke inhalation. In June 2012, Debbie McCann said, "One of the lives saved that day [was] my mother, pregnant with me." After Mr. Minich carried her mother to safety, he put in her hand a crucifix that he had been wearing. Sixty years after Mr. Minich's death, Ms. McCann located his grave at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois, discovered that it lacked a headstone, and contacted cemetery field manager John Stewart about putting up a permanent marker. Mr. Stewart said, "She went to great lengths to contact our office. She originally planned to pay for the headstone on her own." Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 President Tom Ryan told Ms. Minich that she did not have to pay for the headstone. Mr. Ryan said, "This was something that had to be made right. He gave his life and made the ultimate sacrifice for the people he served, and that needed to be recognized." Now Mr. Minich has a permanent grave marker. It includes the word "HERO." (250)
APPENDIX A: SOME BOOKS BY DAVID BRUCE

Retellings of a Classic Work of Literature

Dante's Inferno: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Purgatory: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Paradise: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Divine Comedy: A Retelling in Prose

From the Iliad to the Odyssey: A Retelling in Prose of Quintus of Smyrna's Posthomerica

Homer's Iliad: A Retelling in Prose

Homer's Odyssey: A Retelling in Prose

Jason and the Argonauts: A Retelling in Prose of Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica

Virgil's Aeneid: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV, aka Henry IV, Part 1: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's As You Like It: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's The Tempest: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: A Retelling in Prose

Children's Biography

Nadia Comaneci: Perfect Ten

Anecdote Collections

250 Anecdotes About Opera

250 Anecdotes About Religion

250 Anecdotes About Religion: Volume 2

250 Music Anecdotes

Be a Work of Art: 250 Anecdotes and Stories

The Coolest People in Art: 250 Anecdotes

The Coolest People in the Arts: 250 Anecdotes

The Coolest People in Books: 250 Anecdotes

The Coolest People in Comedy: 250 Anecdotes

Create, Then Take a Break: 250 Anecdotes

Don't Fear the Reaper: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Art: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Books: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Books, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Books, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Comedy: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Dance: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 4: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 5: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 6: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Movies: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Music: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Music, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Music, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Neighborhoods: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Relationships: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Sports: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Sports, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Television and Radio: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Theater: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People Who Live Life: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People Who Live Life, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

Maximum Cool: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Movies: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Politics and History: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Politics and History, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Politics and History, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Religion: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Sports: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People Who Live Life: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People Who Live Life, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

Reality is Fabulous: 250 Anecdotes and Stories

Resist Psychic Death: 250 Anecdotes

Seize the Day: 250 Anecdotes and Stories

Kindest People Series

The Kindest People Who Do Good Deeds: Volume 1

The Kindest People Who Do Good Deeds: Volume 2

(Free) Kindest People Volumes

The Kindest People Who Do Good Deeds: Volumes 3-7

The Kindest People: Heroes and Good Samaritans (Volumes 1-7)

The Kindest People: Be Excellent to Each Other (Volumes 1-5)

Free Philosophy for the Masses Series

Philosophy for the Masses: Ethics

Philosophy for the Masses: Metaphysics and More

Philosophy for the Masses: Religion

Free Discussion Guide Series

Dante's Inferno: A Discussion Guide

Dante's Paradise: A Discussion Guide

Dante's Purgatory: A Discussion Guide

Forrest Carter's The Education of Little Tree: A Discussion Guide

Homer's Iliad: A Discussion Guide

Homer's Odyssey: A Discussion Guide

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: A Discussion Guide

Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee: A Discussion Guide

Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl: A Discussion Guide

Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal": A Discussion Guide

Lloyd Alexander's The Black Cauldron: A Discussion Guide

Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper: A Discussion Guide

Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind: A Discussion Guide

Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember: A Discussion Guide

Virgil's Aeneid: A Discussion Guide

Virgil's "The Fall of Troy": A Discussion Guide

Voltaire's Candide: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A Discussion Guide

William Sleator's Oddballs: A Discussion Guide

(Oddballs is an excellent source for teaching how to write autobiographical essays/personal narratives.)
**APPENDIX B: AN EXCERPT FROM** _HOMER'S_ **ODYSSEY:** _A RETELLING IN PROSE_ **BY DAVID BRUCE**

Ch. 1: Athena and Telemachus

Muse, goddess of inspiration, please help me. I have an important story to tell, and I need help to tell it. Please use me to tell the story.

Help me to tell the story of a man of twists and turns. His mind twists and turns to seek solutions to problems. His journey twists and turns in the Mediterranean—and beyond. His strategy conquered Troy. He is a man who tried mightily—but failed—to bring his companions home, fools though they sometimes were.

Help me to tell the story of Odysseus, the great individualist and mastermind and man who feels pain deeply.

All other heroes of the Trojan War were home by now—or dead. Only Odysseus remained away from his home. Odysseus was kept captive by Calypso the sea-goddess.

Still, most gods and goddesses pitied Odysseus now, so long absent from his island kingdom: Ithaca. But Poseidon, the great ruler of the seas, did not pity Odysseus. No, Poseidon was still angry. Poseidon still wanted Odysseus to suffer, to stay away from home, to long to see his day of homecoming. But Poseidon was now absent, away on a visit to the Ethiopians.

Zeus, the king of gods and of men, at home on Olympus among the gods and goddesses, spoke his mind about another homecoming: "Mortals have no shame, blaming the gods as they so often do for their own problems. Look at Aegisthus. Paris, Prince of Troy, visited Menelaus, King of Lacedaemon, and then ran away with his lawful wife, Helen, taking her to Troy. Angry, Menelaus and his older brother, Agamemnon, took hundreds of ships loaded with soldiers and fought a ten-year war to get Helen back. Clearly, pursuing another man's wife is destructive, and Aegisthus should have realized that. But he didn't, and he looked with desire at Clytemnestra, the lawful wife of Agamemnon. I even sent the messenger-god Hermes to tell him to leave Clytemnestra alone. Did he listen? No. Did he pay the price? Yes. Aegisthus killed Agamemnon when he returned home, and Agamemnon's son, Orestes, kept anger in his heart. When Orestes became a young man, he exacted proper revenge and killed Aegisthus and avenged his father, exactly as a man ought to do."

Athena, goddess of wisdom, sensing an opportunity to act and to help her favorite mortal, spoke to her father, Zeus, "Father, all you say is true. Aegisthus deserved what he got. He did the wrong thing, and he paid the proper penalty.

"But what about Odysseus? He has been cursed by fate. He is far from home, held captive on an island by Calypso. He longs to see his day of homecoming. He longs to see even the smoke of cooking fires rising from Ithaca. Is Odysseus your enemy? Has Odysseus shown you disrespect?"

Zeus replied to his favorite daughter, "No, Athena. Odysseus is not my enemy. Odysseus has never shown me disrespect. But Poseidon, the earth-shaking god of earthquakes and of the sea, hates Odysseus, who hurt his son, the one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus. Poseidon knows that he cannot kill Odysseus—Odysseus is not fated to die just yet—but Poseidon knows that he can cause Odysseus great trouble and delay his day of homecoming.

"Still, Poseidon is gone now. So let us think together how we can help Odysseus to return home."

"If you mean what you say," Athena replied, "then send Hermes to Calypso to tell her that she must let Odysseus go free so he can attempt to return to Ithaca. I, meanwhile, will go to Ithaca, to see his son, Telemachus, and help him to grow up.

"I will put courage in Prince Telemachus' heart. I will advise him to call an assembly and speak out against the suitors who are courting his mother—Odysseus' wife, Penelope—even though Odysseus is still alive. I will advise him to speak out against the suitors who are treating him and his household badly, slaughtering his sheep, pigs, cows, and goats, partying on his property while showing him disrespect. I will also advise him to visit the mainland, to go to Pylos and Lacedaemon to seek news of his father.

"The son of a hero should also be a hero. It is time for Telemachus to stop being a boy and start being a man. Perhaps he will do a deed that will be remembered."

Zeus agreed with her plan.

Athena armed herself with a spear and disguised herself as a mortal man: Mentes, lord of the Taphians. Then she flew—the gods and goddesses have that power—down to Odysseus' palace on Ithaca to see Telemachus and the swaggering suitors for herself.

The suitors were behaving exactly as she had known they would. They were playing dice and drinking wine while servants heaped tables in Odysseus' Great Hall with huge platters of meat—meat butchered from Telemachus' own animals. Athena stood in the doorway, waiting to be noticed and hoping to be welcomed.

As all know, although not all act on their knowledge, strangers ought to be noticed and welcomed. What is the difference between a civilized society and an uncivilized society? A civilized society feeds the hungry. A civilized society takes care of the needs of guests. A civilized society treats strangers as guests. An uncivilized society does not do these things.

Of course, both host and guest must be civilized. The host must not rob or murder his guest. A guest must not rob or murder his host. A host must feed his guest, give the guest water to wash with, and give the guest a place to sleep. A guest must not run away with his host's wife, as Paris, prince of Troy, did, and a guest must not stay too long, must not waste the property of his host, and must not treat his host with disrespect, as the suitors were doing to Telemachus.

The proper relationship between guest and host has a name: xenia. A civilized society is a society that observes xenia. An uncivilized society is a society that does not observe xenia.

Telemachus saw Athena, disguised as Mentes, first. She, of course, appeared as a mortal man and not as a goddess to him. Having been raised correctly, he went immediately to her, horrified that perhaps that she had been waiting a long time at the doorway for someone to notice her and to greet her. He shook her right hand, and then he took her spear, both to relieve her of her burden and to disarm her. Always, it is a good idea to disarm a guest until you are sure that the guest knows and observes xenia properly.

He led Athena into the Great Hall, put her spear on a rack filled with other spears, and then led her to a high seat of honor among the tables laden with platters piled high with meat. They sat together, a servant brought them water so they could wash their hands, and they ate. Only after they had eaten did Telemachus, who had been raised properly, ask her who she was. He hoped to learn, if he could, news of his father. The suitors, having feasted while ignoring Telemachus' guest, danced to the music of the bard Phemius, a man who, like many of the other servants in the palace, was forced to serve the suitors. Unfortunately, some servants were loyal to the suitors, not to Telemachus.

Telemachus unburdened himself to Athena: "Look at these young men! They party every day, eating food that does not belong to them and drinking wine that does not belong to them. Their days are filled with games and feasts and music. They take and take, and they give nothing in return. If only my father, Odysseus, were alive, they would run away from the palace as fast as they can. But my father is dead. He will never return to Ithaca. But tell me about yourself. What is your story?"

"My name is Mentes," Athena said. "I had heard that my friend of long ago, Odysseus, had returned to Ithaca, but I see that I was wrong. The gods must be preventing his return. I will tell you that you are wrong about the death of your father. I know that Odysseus is alive. No, I am not a prophet, but the gods sometimes speak to people who are not prophets. Your father will return to Ithaca soon. But tell me about yourself. What is your story? You certainly resemble your father."

"Odysseus is said to be my father," Telemachus said, "but sometimes I wonder if that is true. We can know for certain who our mother is, but does anyone truly know who is his father? I wish that my father were here, and yes, people say that Odysseus is my father."

"All will be well in the end," Athena said. "Penelope has given birth to a fine son. But what is going on in the palace? Anyone would think from all the food and wine that this is a wedding-feast, but the young men are not acting like guests at a wedding. Anyone would think that they are uncivilized delinquents rather than guests."

"They are courting my mother—against her will! She is the wife of a man whose white bones lie unburied somewhere," Telemachus replied. "I wish my father had died among friends. If he had died at Troy, his friends would have raised a burial-mound for him and have properly mourned his death. If he had returned home to Ithaca and died, we would have raised a burial-mound for him and have properly mourned his death. But no, he died friendless and alone, far from home.

"The suitors are uncivilized. They waste all my possessions. They party all day. My mother does not know what to do. She does not know whether her husband is alive or dead, and therefore she does not know whether to remain faithful to a living husband or to seek a new husband because she is a widow. If Odysseus is alive, Penelope has a duty to remain faithful to him. If Odysseus is dead, Penelope ought to remarry. In the meantime, as we wait for reliable news about whether Odysseus is alive or dead, the suitors run wild. Someday, they will try to kill me to get me out of the way. There are over a hundred suitors. What can I do against so many?"

"The suitors are behaving shamefully," Athena said, "but if they knew Odysseus, they would leave the palace quickly. I know Odysseus, and he would not allow the suitors to run wild. The last time I saw Odysseus, he was on a mission to get poison to put on the heads of his arrows. If that Odysseus were to return to Ithaca, the suitors would soon be dead.

"But Odysseus is not here. You, Telemachus, are here. Think. What can you do to rid your palace of the suitors? You are your father's son, and you know your father would not permit such outrageous actions in his own palace.

"Listen to me. In the morning, call an assembly of the men on Ithaca. Speak out against the suitors. Let the other men know what the suitors are doing. They are running wild. They are uncivilized. They do not respect xenia. They take and take, and they give nothing in return. They produce nothing of value. They live only to eat and to produce human excrement.

"In the assembly, tell the suitors to leave your palace and to return to their own homes. Tell them that with the lords of Ithaca and the gods as your witnesses.

"As for your mother, let her act as she thinks best. If she thinks that she ought to remarry, let her return to the house of her father so that he can arrange a suitable marriage for her. A marriage with one of the suitors is not a suitable marriage—not when they act like this!

"Also, Telemachus, get a ship ready and journey to the mainland to seek news of your father. Perhaps you will hear something of value. First go to Pylos to consult Nestor, the wise old man of the Greek forces during the Trojan War. Then visit Lacedaemon, where Menelaus is king. See what, if anything, they know of your father.

"If you hear that Odysseus is still alive, then wait one more year for him to return.

"But if you hear definitively that he is dead, then return home, raise a burial-mound for him, and mourn him. Find a husband for your mother. And then take thought of how to kill the suitors. They will not leave willingly—not when they can party at no cost to themselves here. You are not a boy any longer, so it is time for you to grow up. A beard is on your face, yet you are clinging to the ways of boyhood.

"Think of Orestes, a young man of your own age. Aegisthus killed Orestes' father, so Orestes killed Aegisthus. For this righteous killing, Orestes has achieved renown throughout the world. If you succeed in killing the suitors, you also will achieve renown throughout the world.

"Telemachus, you are tall and handsome. Be brave, too. I must leave now and return to my ship, but think about and remember everything that I have advised you."

A proper host, Telemachus replied, "I will. You have advised me the way a father would advise a son. But stay a while. Bathe, and then return to your ship bearing a gift from me to you. This is the way that xenia works."

Athena, pleased with Telemachus, replied, "No, I must be going now. But I will return. Keep the gift until I return."

Then Athena, shape-shifter extraordinaire, turned herself into a bird and flew away, letting Telemachus know that he had been honored with a visit from the goddess Athena.

Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, Phemius the bard sang of the Homecomings of Heroes from the Trojan War, a song that did not include the homecoming of Odysseus, whom Calypso was holding captive on an island.

In her quarters, Penelope heard the song of the bard and wondered whether she was a widow or a wife. If she was a widow, her society demanded that she remarry and go to live with her new husband, turning over the palace to Telemachus. But if she was a wife with a living husband, her society demanded that she remain faithful to Odysseus and stay on Ithaca to preserve his property as much as she was able to.

Upset by the bard's song, Penelope went to the Great Hall, accompanied by two serving-women. Ever-prudent Penelope would never appear before men she was not related to without serving-women to accompany her.

"Phemius!" she cried. "Stop singing that song! It breaks my heart, knowing that Odysseus has not returned home although twenty years have passed. I need my husband here—now."

Telemachus spoke up, "Don't blame the bard for Odysseus' absence. So many warriors failed to return home from Troy. Let the bard sing. Go back to your quarters and attend to your work. I will look after things here."

Telemachus disliked his mother's appearing before the suitors, although she never appeared before them alone. Wild young men who drink and party are dangerous.

Penelope obeyed her son. She wanted him to grow up, become a man, and take command. In ancient Greece, women obeyed men. She left the Great Hall, and in her quarters, she wept for Odysseus.

In the Great Hall, the suitors spoke—loudly—about Penelope's beauty, and about how they wanted to go to bed with her.

Telemachus spoke to the suitors, "In the morning, I will call a council of all the men of Ithaca. You suitors who wish to marry my mother—although she is unwilling to remarry—must leave my palace and return to your own homes. You take and take, but you never give. Go to your own homes and devour your own possessions! Enough! I pray to Zeus that all of you will receive justice—justice of a kind that will make you regret what you have done to my possessions."

The suitors were shocked. Telemachus had never spoken to them with such daring before.

Antinous, one of the leaders of the suitors, spoke up: "Telemachus, you must have received encouragement from a god, if such a thing were possible. Otherwise, you would not dare to talk in such a way. Still, I doubt that you will ever be crowned King of Ithaca."

"If the crown ever comes to me, so be it," Telemachus replied. "Father Zeus can award the crown to whomever he desires. Still, many princes are on Ithaca, and one of them may hold the crown, now that Odysseus is dead. But whether I ever become King of Ithaca, I intend to be king of my own palace. Odysseus won this property for me, and I intend to keep it."

Eurymachus, the other leader of the suitors, countered, "All of this lies in the hands of the gods, but yes, of course, by all means you are the ruler here. I would be a hypocrite if I were to say anything but the truth. But who was your guest just now, the one who left so quickly? Did he bring news of your father?"

"My father will never return to Ithaca," Telemachus said. "I no longer listen to the rumors that are spread by strangers, although my mother insists on questioning them. But the guest was Mentes, a man who is a friend to my family from long ago." However, Telemachus knew that his guest had been the goddess Athena, not a mortal man.

The suitors resumed their partying, and then, late at night, they left the palace until the following morning.

Telemachus prepared for bed. An aged servant named Eurycleia, whom Laertes, Telemachus' grandfather, had bought when she was young and pretty, but had never bedded because he did not want to upset his wife, lit his way with a torch. That night, Telemachus did not sleep, but lay awake, thinking over everything that Athena had said to him.
APPENDIX C: ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a cry rang out, and on a hot summer night in 1954, Josephine, wife of Carl Bruce, gave birth to a boy—me. Unfortunately, this young married couple allowed Reuben Saturday, Josephine's brother, to name their first-born. Reuben, aka "The Joker," decided that Bruce was a nice name, so he decided to name me Bruce Bruce. I have gone by my middle name—David—ever since.

Being named Bruce David Bruce hasn't been all bad. Bank tellers remember me very quickly, so I don't often have to show an ID. It can be fun in charades, also. When I was a counselor as a teenager at Camp Echoing Hills in Warsaw, Ohio, a fellow counselor gave the signs for "sounds like" and "two words," then she pointed to a bruise on her leg twice. Bruise Bruise? Oh yeah, Bruce Bruce is the answer!

Uncle Reuben, by the way, gave me a haircut when I was in kindergarten. He cut my hair short and shaved a small bald spot on the back of my head. My mother wouldn't let me go to school until the bald spot grew out again.

Of all my brothers and sisters (six in all), I am the only transplant to Athens, Ohio. I was born in Newark, Ohio, and have lived all around Southeastern Ohio. However, I moved to Athens to go to Ohio University and have never left.

At Ohio U, I never could make up my mind whether to major in English or Philosophy, so I got a bachelor's degree with a double major in both areas, then I added a master's degree in English and a master's degree in Philosophy. Currently, I publish a weekly humorous column titled "Wise Up!" for _The Athens News_ and I am a retired English instructor at Ohio U.
APPENDIX D: FAIR USE

This communication uses information that I have researched from the WWW and a few books. I will not make a dime from it. The use of this information is consistent with fair use:

§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use

Release date: 2004-04-30

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

Source of Fair Use information: <http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000107——000-.html>.
APPENDIX E: BOOK BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aaseng, Nate. _Great Winter Olympic Moments_. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Company, 1990.

Backus, Jim and Henny. _Forgive Us Our Digressions_. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1988

Deford, Frank. _The Heart of a Champion: Celebrating the Spirit and Character of Great American Sports Heroes_. United States: NorthWord Press, 2002.

Dickinson, Joy Wallace. _Remembering Orlando: Tales from Elvis to Disney_. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2006.

Garagiola, Joe. _It's Anybody's Ballgame_. New York: Jove Books, 1988.

Gorman, Tom, and Jerome Holtzman. _Three and Two!_ New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1979.

Greene, Katherine and Richard. _The Man Behind the Magic: The Story of Walt Disney_. New York: Viking, 1991.

Haney, Lynn. _The Lady is a Jock_. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1973.

Kent, Zachary. _Andrew Carnegie: Steel King and Friends to Libraries_. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publications, Inc., 1999.

Pierce, Gregory F. Augustine, editor. _Christmas Presents: Twelve Gifts That were More than They Seemed_. Chicago, Illinois: ACTA Publications, 2002.

Walker, Gerald, editor. _My Most Memorable Christmas_. New York: Pocket Books, Inc., 1963.

Wilde, Larry. _The Great Comedians_. Secaucus, NJ: The Citadel Press, 1968.
APPENDIX F: ENDNOTES

(1) Source: "Good Samaritan girl." _The Chronicle_ (Toowoomba, Australia). 29 November 2006 <<http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2006/11/29/apn-good-samarita/>>.

(2) Source: Morgan Tait, "Chopper rescue from remote farm saves unborn baby's life." _New Zealand Herald_. 25 June 2012 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10815212&ref=rss>.

(3) Source: Larry Wilde, _The Great Comedians_ , pp. 238, 268, 302.

(4) Source: Frank Deford, _The Heart of a Champion: Celebrating the Spirit and Character of Great American Sports Heroes_ , pp. 112-117.

(5) Source: "Diving in to help: Olympic stars come to the rescue of the crying little girl who was scared of deep water." _Daily Mail_ (UK). 2 June 2012; updated 3 June 2012 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2153829/Olympic-star-Tom-comes-rescue.html?ITO=1490>>.

(6) Source: Therese Apel, "Posthumous Carnegie Medal honors heroic actions." _Clarion Ledger_ (Jackson, Mississippi). 28 June 2012 <<http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120628/NEWS/206280341>>.

(7) Source: Wayne Coffey, "Former NY Mets GM Jim Duquette donates kidney to young daughter, Lindsey, to fight rare disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis." _New York Daily News_. 3 June 2012 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/ny-mets-met-gm-jim-duquette-donates-kidney-young-daughter-lindsey-fight-rare-disease-article-1.1089309>>.

(8) Source: Joe Garagiola, _It's Anybody's Ballgame_ , p. 81.

(9) Source: Frank Deford, _The Heart of a Champion: Celebrating the Spirit and Character of Great American Sports Heroes_ , pp. 91-92.

(10) Source: Tom Gorman and Jerome Holtzman, _Three and Two!_ , p. 181.

(11) Source: Lynn Haney, _The Lady is a Jock_ , p. 56.

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(41) Source: Mark Johnson, "MU, MIAD students design device that helps girl with rare disorder." _Journal Sentinel_ (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). 9 June 2012 <<http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/engineering-project-helps-girl-feed-herself-kc51pvv-158313985.html>>.

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(51) Source: Lauren Kelley, "7 Ways Citizens Are Using Humor and Creativity to Protest Injustice." AlterNet. 25 March 2012 <<http://www.alternet.org/activism/154668/7_ways_citizens_are_using_humor_and_creativity_to_protest_injustice/>>. Also: No Access Sex Strike. <<http://www.noaccesssexstrike.org/>>. Accessed 26 March 2012.

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(53) Source: Hannah Booth, "Big picture: 'God hates signs' — gay rights protesters' placards." _Guardian_ (UK). 20 April 2012 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2012/apr/20/photography-gay-rights>>.

(54) Source: Max Fisher, "Photos of a Clandestine Gay Rights Rally in Tehran." _The Atlantic_. 22 May 2012  http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/05/photos-of-a-clandestine-gay-rights-rally-in-tehran/257500/#slide9>.

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(57) Source: Jules Pieri: "Even a Big Business Can Act Small: How Zappos Knocked My Socks Off." Divine Caroline. 11 October 2009 <<http://jules.dailygrommet.com/2009/10/11/how-even-a-big-business-can-act-small/>>.

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(64) Source: Ann Scott Tyson, "Woman Gains Silver Star—And Removal From Combat." _Washington Post_. 1 May 2008 <<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/30/AR2008043003415.html?sid=ST2008043003513>>.

(65) Source: Bill Reid, "Obituary: Norman Jackson VC." _Independent_ (UK). 9 April 1994 <<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-norman-jackson-vc-1368876.html>>.

(66) Source: Samaia Hernandez, "Mission Complete In Glastonbury: A New House To Welcome A Hero." _Hartford Courant_ (Hartford, Connecticut). 23 June 2012 <<http://www.courant.com/community/glastonbury/hc-jiminez-ceremony-0623-20120623,0,3060553.story>>.

(67) Source: Max Blenkin, "Injured Aussie soldier hailed a hero." _The Age_ (Australia). 31 May 2012 <<http://www.theage.com.au/national/injured-aussie-soldier-hailed-a-hero-20120531-1zju8.html>>.

(68) Source: Max Lambert, "Kiwi World War II hero dies." Stuff (New Zealand). 20 May 2012 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6954700/Kiwi-World-War-II-hero-dies>>.

(69) Source: Laura T. Coffey, "At 83, he gave his kidney to a stranger: Nicholas Crace eagerly became Britain's oldest living altruistic kidney donor." Today. 31 May 2012 <<http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47618217/ns/today-good_news/>>.

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(72) Source: Dani Carlson, "Mom: Dog saved baby son from drowning." WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Michigan). 25 June 2012; updated 26 June 2012 <<http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Mom-Dog-saved-baby-son-from-drowning>>. Also: Tony Spehar, "Family dog saves toddler from drowning." ABC 57. 25 June 2012; updated 26 June 2012 <<http://www.abc57.com/home/top-stories/Family-dog-saves-toddler-from-drowning-160310745.html>>.

(73) Source: "Dog leaps in as house fire hero." Good News Blog. 1 August 2005  <http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/08/01/dog-leaps-in-as-house-fire-hero>.

(74) Source: Dominique Mosbergen, "Newborn Baby Rescued By Hero Dog In Ghana." Huffington Post. 8 June 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/08/newborn-baby-rescued-by-d_n_1581483.html?ref=good-news>>. Also: "DOG RESCUES ABANDONED NEWBORN." Yahoo!7 and Yahoo! New Zealand. 8 June 2012 <<http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/13901866/dog-rescues-abandoned-newborn/>>.

(75) Source: "Trained dog carries oxygen to help girl breathe." Dogtime. 23 March 2012 <<http://dogtime.com/trained-dog-carries-oxygen-tank-so-girl-can-breathe.html#>>.

(76) Source: "Yorkshire Terrier pressed panic alarm after owner collapsed in the shower." _Telegraph_ (UK). 15 May 2012 <<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/9267022/Yorkshire-Terrier-pressed-panic-alarm-after-owner-collapsed-in-the-shower.html>>.

(77) Source: "Man rescues puppy in Riverside County." _Los Angeles Times_ (California). 31 May 2012 <<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/puppy-rescued-riverside-county.html>>.

(78) Source: Michelle Miller, "Hero dog prompts women's shelter to accept canines." CBS News, 20 June 2012 <<http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57456761/>>.

(79) Source: Gráinne McWilliams, "Good samaritan thanked for saving drowning dog." _Belfast Telegraph_ (Ireland). 6 August 2008 <<http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/south-belfast/news/good-samaritan-thanked-for-saving-drowning-dog-13931557.html?startindex=-1>>.

(80) Source: John Masanauskas, "Bi Bi blown away by galeforce winds in Victoria." _Herald Sun_ (Melbourne, Australia). 17 August 2009 <<http://www.news.com.au/national/bi-bi-blown-away-by-galeforce-winds-in-victoria/story-e6frfkvr-1225762441999>>.

(81) Source: John Tunison, "Duckling rescue! Good Samaritans save fuzzy waddlers down East Beltline drain." MLIVE (Michigan). 2 June 2012 <http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/06/ducklng_rescue_good_samaritans.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+grpress+(The+Grand+Rapids+Press+Latest+News+%7C+MLive.com)&utm_content=Google+Reader&utm_content=Google+Reader)>.

(82) Source: Anonymous, "Yesterday I told my dad and step mom I was gay." Gives Me Hope. 20 June 2012 <<http://love.givesmehope.com/True+Love/Yesterday-I-told-my-dad-and-step-mom-I-w/9044746> \>. Also: Anonymous, "When I was 3 my dad saved my life." Gives Me Hope. 19 June 2012 <http://love.givesmehope.com/True+Love/When-I-was-3-my-dad-saved-my-life/62276>.

(83) Source: "JCPenney Responds to Homophobic Boycott Calls with Gay Father's Day Ad." Gawker. <http://gawker.com/5914527/jcpenney-responds-to-homophobic-boycott-calls-with-gay-fathers-day-ad>. Also: Igor Volsky, "Ellen Responds To 'One Million Moms' Boycott Of JC Penney: 'My Haters Are My Motivators.'" ThinkProgress. 8 February 2012 <<http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/08/421085/ellen-responds-to-one-million-moms-boycott-of-jc-penney-my-haters-are-my-motivators/>>.

(84) Source: Lyingfromyou824, "Dad gets 'Born This Way' tattoo." YouTube. 10 March 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_JXx4z9P1w&feature=player_embedded>.

(85) Source: Caralise Trayes, "Boy, 8, gets bank loan to fund rescue chopper." Stuff (New Zealand). 19 June 2012 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/7127345/Boy-8-gets-bank-loan-to-fund-rescue-chopper>>.

(86) Source: "Mum saved by daughter after microwave ravioli meal explodes." _Thanet Times_ (UK). This is Kent. 19 June 2012 <<http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Mum-saved-burn-horror/story-16410892-detail/story.html>>.

(87) Source: Joe Kemp, "Brooklyn teacher to meet FDNY heroes who brought her back to life." _New York Daily News_. 22 May 2012 <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn-teacher-meet-fdny-heroes-brought-back-life-article-1.1082084?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Flatino+%28Latino%29>.

(88) Source: John Farmer, "Bush Samaritan rejects hero tag." _The Chronicle_ (Toowoomba, Australia). 5 March 2010 <<http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2010/03/05/bush-samaritan-rejects-hero-tag/>>. Also: John Farmer, "Passers-by save sick motorist." _The Chronicle_ (Toowoomba, Australia). 4 March 2010 <<http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2010/03/04/passers-by-save-sick-motorist/>>.

(89) Source: Kathleen Dyett, "Award for young triple-0 hero." ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 13 June 2012 <<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-13/canberra-girl-awarded-for-saving-mother-with-emergency-call/4068238>>.

(90) Source: "Heroic Long Island Five-Year-Old Dials 911, Saves Choking Little Brother's Life." CBSNewYork. 19 May 2012 <<http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/05/19/heroic-long-island-five-year-old-dials-911-saves-choking-little-brothers-life/>>.

(91) Source: "Sheriff's Citizen Corps volunteer uses training to save a life during lunch." KRNV-TV (Reno, Nevada). 3 July 2012 <http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/Sheriffs-Citizen-Corps-volunteer-uses-training-to/re82pSt54UKnMjkz0_92Sw.cspx>.

(92) Source: "Ambulance chief commends Good Samaritan." CBC News (Canada). 14 May 2008 <<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2008/05/14/edm-hero.html>>.

(93) Source: Dean Taylor of the _Te Awamutu Courier_ (New Zealand), "Neighbour performs the ultimate good deed." _New Zealand Herald_. 3 February 2012 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10783231>. Also: "Learn CPR. You Can Do It!" University of Washington (Seattle, Washington). <<http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/askdoctor.html>>. Accessed 28 May 2012.

(94) Source: Erin Meyer and Carlos Sadovi, "Good Samaritans help rescue children in Edgewater fire: Dozens trapped in apartment building Sunday morning." _Chicago Tribune_ (Illinois). 28 May 2012 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-28/news/ct-met-kenmore-fire-0528-20120528_1_apartment-building-smoke-detectors-second-story-window>>.

(95) Source: "Good Samaritan saves family from burning house." KGET (Bakersfield, California). 2 July 2012 <<http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Good-Samaritan-saves-family-from-burning-house/05mRA_yNB0yOjqvcSkXjiw.cspx?rss=91>>.

(96) Source: Peter Cook, "Boys rescue woman from blazing house." Kent Online (UK). 5 March 2006 <<http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/newsarchive.aspx?articleid=25325>>.

(97) Source: Matt Townsend, "Pregnant mom saved from fire by good Samaritans." _New York Daily News_. 6 October 2008 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/pregnant-mom-saved-fire-good-samaritans-article-1.299442>>.

(98) Source: Ellie Ross, "6ft 8in paramedic acts as human ladder to save house blaze couple." _Sun_ (UK). 29 March 2012 <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4225410/Giant-paramedic-Lincoln-Dodd-turns-himself-into-human-ladder-to-save-people-from-burning-house.html>>.

(99) Source: Janet Wu, "Cable worker rescues woman from burning home." WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). 15 June 2012; updated 16 June 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/12007740584437/cable-worker-rescues-woman-from-burning-home/>>.

(100) Source: "Right place, right time as mysterious hero saves family." Posted on Good News Blog, 4 March 2006 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/03/04/right-place-right-time-as-mysterious-hero-saves-family>>.

(101) Source: "Trapped man rescued from burning apartment building." KOMO (Seattle, Washington). 16 April 2012 <<http://www.komonews.com/news/local/147584995.html>>.

(102) Source: Austin Bogues, "York fire victims rescued by fellow campers." _Daily Press_ (Hampton Roads, Virginia). 27 May 2012 <<http://www.dailypress.com/news/crime/dp-nws-york-camp-fire-rescue-20120527,0,133436.story>>.

(103) Source: John Quinn, "Making heroism a habit." _New Hampshire Union Leader_ (Manchester, New Hampshire). 6 May 2012 <<http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120506/NEWS0701/705069981/0/news11>>.

(104) Source: "Teen's bravery didn't flag: Rescues neighbor from blaze." Good News Blog. 24 July 2005 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/07/24/teens-bravery-didnt-flag-rescues-neighbor-from-blaze>>. Also: "Top newsmakers of 2005." Wicked Local. Newton, MA. Posted: 27 December 2005. Last update: 15 March 2008. <<http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x902753135#axzz1RzccXq1w>>.

(105) Source: Leonard Lim and Jermyn Chow, "Neighbors rescue family from burning flat." Asia News Network. _The Straits Times_ (Singapore, Malaysia). Reprinted in _The Jakarta Post_ (Indonesia). 21 May 2012 <<http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/21/neighbors-rescue-family-burning-flat.html>>.

(106) Source: "FAMILY THANK HUMBLE HERO AFTER FIRE RESCUE." 7News (Melbourne, Australia). 28 June 2012 <<http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/latest/14078256/family-thank-humble-hero-after-fire-rescue/>>.

(107) Source: Jessica A. York, "Vallejo: Good samaritans rescue two wheelchair-bound men from van fire." _Vallejo Times-Herald_ (California). 15 May 2012 <<http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20629307/vallejo-good-samaritans-rescue-two-wheelchair-bound-men?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com>>.

(108) Source: "Man saves woman after fiery toll booth crash." CNN. WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). 17 June 2012; updated 18 June 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/must-see/12007768482350/man-saves-houston-woman-after-fiery-toll-booth-crash/>>.

(109) Source: Chris Smith. "Red Cross honors local 'Real Heroes' for bravery." _Press Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, California). 10 April 2012 <<http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120420/COMMUNITY/120429990>>.

(110) Source: Rich Newberg, "Good samaritans rescue children: Children trapped in burning car on Thruway rescued." WIVB (Buffalo, New York). 4 September 2009 <<http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/Good_samaritans_rescue_children_20090904>>.

(111) Source: "Hero passer-by who pulled man from burning car happened to be a trainee firefighter. _London Evening Standard_ (UK). 7 June 2012 <<http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/london/hero-passerby-who-pulled-man-from-burning-car-happened-to-be-a-trainee-firefighter-7826782.html>>.

(112) Source: Elizabeth Dinh and KOMO Staff, "Good Samaritans pull mom, two kids from flaming wreckage." KOMO (Seattle, Washington). 6 February 2012 <<http://www.komonews.com/news/local/138799449.html>>.

(113) Source: Brent Davis, "Good Samaritans rescue man from flaming van." _Hamilton Spectator_ (Canada). 25 May 2012 <<http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/article/730845--good-samaritans-rescue-man-from-flaming-van>>.

(114) Source: "Good Samaritan saves man from burning car." WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). 7 January 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/south/12006368986825/good-samaritan-saves-man-from-burning-car/>>.

(115) Source: Gretyl Macalaster, "Civilians step up to help first responders save man from burning vehicle." _New Hampshire Union Leader_ (Manchester, New Hampshire). 10 May 2012 <<http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120510/NEWS0701/705109935/-1/NEWS07>>.

(116) Source: Beverly N. Williams, "A Story Of Heroism On The Highway." _Daily Press_ (Hampton Roads, Virginia). 22 January 2001 <<http://articles.dailypress.com/2001-01-22/news/0101220007_1_minivan-truck-heroism>>.

(117) Source: Jessica Leffler, "Good Samaritans recall teen car crash: Hastings teens have been released from hospital." WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Michigan). 29 December 2009 <<http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/gun_lake_region/Good-Samaritans-recall-teen-car-crash>>.

(118) Source: Emma Grove, "Driver so grateful to good Samaritan." _Sheerness Times Guardian_ (Isle of Sheppey, Kent). Kent Online. 4 February 2011 <<http://www.kentonline.co.uk/times_guardian/news/2011/february/4/accident_womans_thanks.aspx>>.

(119) Source: "Good Samaritan On Helping Woman Impaled By Tree." CBS (Chicago, Illinois). 27 October 2010 <<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/10/27/good-samaritan-on-helping-woman-impaled-by-tree/>>. Also: "Woman Impaled By Tree Branch That Fell In Storm." CBS (Chicago, Illinois). 26 October 2010 <<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/10/26/woman-impaled-by-tree-branch-that-fell-in-storm/>>.

(120) Source: R.A. Monti and Jason Cato, "New Kensington men dash to rescue of children after crash." _Pittsburgh Tribune-Review_ (Pennsylvania). 21 May 2012; updated 22 May 2012 <http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourallekiskivalley/yourallekiskivalleymore/1837742-87/hickman-mckallip-car-leonard-van-williams-able-davies-door-driver?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pghlive_vnd+%28Valley+News+Dispatch%29>.

(121) Source: Andrew Del Greco, "Local Man Rescues Two People After Car Crash—With a Garden Hose." KRNV-TV (Reno, Nevada). 7 November 2011 <<http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/Local-Man-Rescues-Two-People-After-Car-Crash-With/3d6KlSZaM0W-DKVm1_A6mA.cspx>>.

(122) Source: _It's an Honor: Australia Celebrating Australians: Welcome to the Bravery Edition_. "Pulled from the flames." Issue 16. July 2006 <<http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/publications/docs/Its_an_honour_16_July_2006.pdf>>. Source: The Office of the Governor—Queensland, "Bravery Awards August 2003." <http://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/ceremonial_honours/BraveryAwardsAugust2003.aspx>.

(123) Source: KKC, "Thank you, Good Samaritans." Letter to the Editor. _The Star_ (Malaysia). 7 July 2011 <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/7/7/focus/9035303&sec=focus>.

(124) Source: Matt McCutcheon, "Sole survivor of triple-fatal crash reunited with Good Samaritans." WAVE (Louisville, Kentucky). 22 May 2012 <<http://www.wave3.com/story/18599604/sole-survivor-of-triple-fatal-crash-reunited-with-good-samaritans>>.

(125) Source: "Unemployed 'hero saves the day." News24 (South Africa). 14 June 2012 <<http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Unemployed-hero-saves-the-day-20120614>>.

(126) Source: _It's an Honor: Australia Celebrating Australians: Welcome to the Bravery Edition_. "High water, high drama." Issue 16. July 2006 <<http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/publications/docs/Its_an_honour_16_July_2006.pdf>>.

(127) Source: "Unknown Samaritan rescues motorist from icy river." Posted on Good News Blog. 9 March 2012 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/03/09/unknown-samaritan-rescues-motorist-from-icy-river>>.

(128) Source: "Strangers pull man from submerged SUV. KATU (Portland, Oregon). 7 June 2010 <<http://www.katu.com/news/local/95782534.html>>.

(129) Source: Marisela Burgos, "Good Samaritan rescues man after he drives his car into a canal." WAVE (Louisville, Kentucky). 25 February 2011 <<http://www.wave3.com/story/14144820/good-sama>>.

(130) Source: "ODOT hero recounts frantic rescue of submerged driver." KATU (Portland, Oregon). 20 June 2012 <<http://www.katu.com/news/ODOT-hero-recounts-frantic-rescue-of-submerged-driver-159768415.html>>.

(131) Source: Doug Harlow, "Rescued man says only thought was of daughter." _Kennebec Journal_ (Maine). 22 June 2012 <<http://www.kjonline.com/news/rescued-man-says-only-thought-was-of-daughter_2012-06-22.html?searchterm=good+samaritan>>.

(132) Source: "Retired Fire Chief rescues baby." WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). NBC. 19 June 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/national/west/12007782316841/retired-fire-chief-rescues-baby/>>.

(133) Source: "Local Teen Receives Award For Heroism." WKRC (Cincinnati, Ohio). 27 June 2012 <<http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Local-Teen-Receives-Award-For-Heroism/LGvG72yjXUu-Hv436NN7Kw.cspx?rss=30>>. Also: Hannah Poturalski, "Butler County teen gets medal: Carnegie award goes to student who saved Acton Lake swimmer." _Hamilton Journal-News_ (Hamilton, Ohio). 27 June 2012 <http://www.journal-news.com/news/hamilton-news/butler-county-teen-gets-medal-1397225.html>.

(134) Source: Morgan Tait, "'Hero' fisherman rescues tourist from surf." _Hawke's Bay Today_. _New Zealand Herald_. 5 June 2012 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810826&ref=rss>.

(135) Source: Kameel Stanley, "Virginia Man Makes Two Rescues in Two Days." _Tampa Bay Times_ (Florida). Published in _The Ledger_ (Lakeland, Florida). 15 June 2012 <http://www.theledger.com/article/20120615/NEWS/120619549/1374?p=1&tc=pg>. Also: Erik Waxler, "Fisherman 'hero pulls driver from water after crash into bay near Isla Key Bridge in South St. Pete." ABC News. 13 June 2012 <<http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_south_pinellas/fisherman-hero-pulls-driver-from-water-after-crash-into-bay-near-isla-key-bridge-in-south-st-pete>>.

(136) Source: Natalie Whiting, "Good samaritan helps save drowning boy." Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 October 2011 <<http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/10/21/3344977.htm>>.

(137) Source: "Mobility scooter pensioner saved from Atherton pond." BBC. 14 June 2012 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18438139>>.

(138) Source: "Mom rescues daughter trapped under ice." _The Local_ (Sweden). 16 January 2012 <<http://www.thelocal.se/38520/20120116/>>.

(139) Source: Cameron Easley and Mark Davenport, "Kiteboarders 'storm into water' to rescue swimmers." WCSC (Charleston, South Carolina). 28 May 2012; updated 30 May 2012. <<http://www.wistv.com/story/18641074/kite-boarder-rescues-struggling-swimmer-at-sullivans-isl>>.

(140) Source: _It's an Honor: Australia Celebrating Australians: Welcome to the Bravery Edition_. "Emergency Underground." Issue 16. July 2006 <<http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/publications/docs/Its_an_honour_16_July_2006.pdf>>. Also: Sparkes, Allan John, CV VA. "Changes in life." Echoes of Life. <http://www.echosoflife.com/default.aspx?Page=ViewEcho&Profile=42>. Accessed 17 April 2012.

(141) Source: Kiran Randhawa, "London girl, 5, saved by heroic stranger who lost his own life." _London Evening Standard_ (UK). 28 May 2012 <http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/london/london-girl-5-saved-by-heroic-stranger-who-lost-his-own-life-7793365.html>. Also: Kevin Rawlinson, "Plamen Petkov: The Bulgarian immigrant who died a British hero's death." Independent (UK). 31 May 2012 <<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/plamen-petkov-the-bulgarian-immigrant-who-died-a-british-heros-death-7805073.html>>.

(142) Source: Charles Anderson and Michael Fox, "Dinghy capsize: Boy's body found." Stuff (New Zealand). 21 May 2012 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6955711/Heroes-jump-from-bridge-to-save-children>>. Also: "Body of boy missing in harbour found." TVNZ (New Zealand). 21 May 2012 <<http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/body-boy-missing-in-harbour-found-4895056>>. Also: Amelia Wade, "Dinghy capsize: Heroes of the harbor." _New Zealand Herald_. 22 May 2012 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10807476&ref=rss>.

(143) Source: "Firefighter remembers day of hell." _The Queensland Times_ (Australia). 10 January 2012 <<http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/01/10/firefighter-remembers-the-floods-day-of-hell/>>. Also: "QLD flood heroes honoured for bravery." Australian Associated Press. 8 June 2012 <<http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/qld-flood-heroes-honoured-for-bravery/story-e6frfku9-1226388648653?from=public_rss>>.

(144) Source: "Ten rescued from capsized boat." WAVY (Portsmouth, Virginia). 9 June 2012; updated 11 June 2011 <<http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/ten-rescued-from-capsized-boat>>.

(145) Source: "Jones praises 'impressive' rescue." (BBC (UK). 10 June 2012 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18386642>>. Also: Sanchez Manning, "Rescuers pluck 150 people from floods as Welsh river bursts banks." _Independent_ (UK). 10 June 2012 <<http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/rescuers-pluck-150-people-from-floods-as-welsh-river-bursts-banks-7834239.html>>.

(146) Source: Emily O'Keefe, "Melbourne teen saves three lives in three years." 9 News (Australia). 14 June 2012 <<http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8483632>>. Also: Nathan Mawby, "Super Sam saves three lives in two years." _Herald Sun_ (Melbourne, Australia). 15 June 2012 <<http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/super-sam/story-fn6bfkm6-1226395953601>>. Also: Nathan Partenza, "Schoolboys praised as heroes for daring rescues." _Sydney Morning Herald_ (Australia). 14 June 2012 <<http://m.smh.com.au/victoria/schoolboys-praised-as-heroes-for-daring-rescues-20120614-20clg.html>>.

(147) Source: Louie Smith, "I'm a lifesaver... just like mum: Hero WPC's son rescues girl from drowning." _Mirror_ (UK). 14 June 2012 <<http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/im-a-lifesaver-just-like-mum-882276>>.

(148) Source: Steven Morris and agencies, "Italian tourists saved from sea in Devon after calling Boots chemist." _Guardian_ (UK). 14 June 2012 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/14/tourists-saved-sea-somerset-boots>>.

(149) Source: Emerson Lotzia, "5-year-old Highland girl being called a hero." ABC 4 News (Salt Lake City, Utah). 13 June 2012 <<http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/5-year-old-Highland-girl-being-called-a-hero/OJS2v-uPK0a4w0bKXoUCAg.cspx?rss=20>>.

(150) Source: "Sacramento sailor OK after rescue off Mexico." Associated Press. 13 June 2012 <http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SAILOR_RESCUED?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT>.

(151) Source: Tiani Jones, "Near drowning victim rescued by 11-year-old girl." WKRN (Nashville, Tennessee). 13 June 2012 <<http://www.wkrn.com/story/18780229/child-pulled-from-pool>>.

(152) Source: "12-year-old rescues girl, 6, from pool: CPR performed on girl." WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Michigan). 23 June 2012; updated 24 June 2012 <<http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/six-year-old-pulled-from-kentwood-pool>>.

(153) Source: Jake Whittenberg, "Boy in Washington state rescued from edge of Wallace Falls." KING 5 News. 21 May 2012 <<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47510003/ns/world_news-wonderful_world/>>. Also: Gene Johnson, "Video shows dramatic waterfall rescue of Wash. teen." Associated Press. KATU (Portland, Oregon). 22 May 2012 <<http://www.katu.com/news/Video-shows-dramatic-waterfall-rescue-of-Wash-teen-152589955.html>>. Also: Jennifer Sullivan, "Rescued teen tells author how story helped him survive." _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 24 May 2012; modified 25 May 2012 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018281982_author25m.html?syndication=rss>>.

(154) Source: Stacy Parker, "Va. Beach police celebrate men who rescued pilot." _The Virginian-Pilot_ (Virginia Beach, Virginia). 9 June 2012 <<http://hamptonroads.com/2012/06/va-beach-police-celebrate-men-who-rescued-pilot>>. Also: Corinne Reilly, Lauren King, and Stacy Parker, "Bystanders describe rescuing crashed Navy pilot." _The Virginian-Pilot_ (Virginia Beach, Virginia). 7 April 2012 <http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/bystanders-describe-rescuing-crashed-navy-pilots>.

(155) Source: Jessie Tao, "Pilot honored for giving up his life for villagers." _China Daily_. Updated: 2007-01-05 <<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/05/content_775786.htm>>.

(156) Source: Joe Kemp and Larry McShane, "Upper West Side dad rescues an unconsious woman at 72nd St. subway station." _New York Daily News_. 20 May 2012 <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/upper-west-side-dad-rescues-unconsious-woman-72nd-st-subway-station-article-1.1081406?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Flatino+%28Latino%29>.

(157) Source: Nathan Partenza, "Schoolboys praised as heroes for daring rescues." _Sydney Morning Herald_ (Australia). 14 June 2012 <<http://m.smh.com.au/victoria/schoolboys-praised-as-heroes-for-daring-rescues-20120614-20clg.html>>.

(158) Source: "RCMP hail Drayton Valley Good Samaritan." CBC News (Canada). 7 July 2008 <<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2008/07/07/edm-drayton-valley.html>>.

(159) Source: "Good Samaritans Stop Rape In Progress." The Wolf Web. 29 October 2007 <<http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=499902>>. Also: "Police: Good Samaritans Stop Rape In Progress." KPTV-FOX 12 (Portland, Oregon). 19 October 2007 <<http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/431137/police_good_samaritans_stop_rape_in_progress>>.

(160) Source: Meghan Kalkstein, "I think they knew they messed with the wrong girl." KATU (Portland, Oregon). 22 June 2012 <<http://www.katu.com/news/local/I-think-they-knew-they-messed-with-the-wrong-girl-159981385.html>>. Also: Laura McVicker, "Jogger not one to run away from a fight: She took on two teens who allegedly accosted her." _Columbian_ (Clark County, Washington). 21 June 2012 <<http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jun/21/jogger-not-one-to-run-away-from-a-fight/>>.

(161) Source: Meghan Potkins, "Mall cop hailed in Cross Iron Mills food court ceremony for preventing woman's abduction." _Calgary Herald_ (Canada). 1 May 2012 <<http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Mall+hailed+Cross+Iron+Mills+food+court+ceremony+preventing+woman+abduction/6542813/story.html>>.

(162) Source: Valentine Njoroge, "Kenya: What Is Herosim or Stupidity?" _The Star_ (Nairobi, Kenya). 15 June 2012 <<http://allafrica.com/stories/201206160506.html>>.

(163) Source: "Man Sought In Sexual Assault Of Jogger in Pacific Beach: Woman Was Grabbed While Running On Diamond Street, Police Say." 10 News (San Diego, California). 14 June 2012 <<http://www.10news.com/news/31191343/detail.html>>.

(164) Source: "Terrifying video captures moment two hikers tackled attacker after he 'tried to rape woman' out walking her dog in BROAD DAYLIGHT." _Daily Mail_ (UK). 3 June 2012 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154151/Dejan-Sebastian-Video-captures-hikers-tackling-attacker-tried-rape-woman-broad-daylight.html>>. Also: "Woman Attacked While Walking Near Busy Hiking Trail In Hollywood." CBS (Los Angeles, California). 2 June 2012 <<http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/06/02/woman-attacked-while-walking-near-busy-hiking-trail-in-hollywood/>>.

(165) Source: Bernard Watson, "Good Samaritans stop attempted rape in Smyrna." CBSAtlanta. 16 April 2010; updated 14 May 2012 <<http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/17461963/good-samaritan-stop-attempted-rape-in-smyrna>>.

(166) Source: Alice Mcquillan and K.C. Baker, "SAMARITANS STOP SEX ATTACK." _New York Daily News_. 25 August 1997 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/samaritans-stop-sex-attack-article-1.783044>>.

(167) Source: Tony Sclafani, "SAMARITANS JUST IN TIME VS. RAPISTS." _New York Daily News_. 22 June 2004  http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/samaritans-time-rapists-article-1.645786>.

(168) Source: "Good Samaritan sought over Bedford sex attack on girl, 13." BBC (UK). 15 December 2011 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16209183>>.

(169) Source: "Court stuns two rapists who joked about light sentences." _The Star_ (Malaysia). 21 May 2012 <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/21/nation/20120521221100&sec=nation>.

(170) Source: "Pensioner saves 7-year-old girl from stranger." _The Local_ (Germany). 9 June 2011 <<http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110709-36185.html>>.

(171) Source: Beatriz E. Valenzuela, "The hero next door." _Victorville Daily Press_ (California). 20 May 2012 <<http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/door-34570-hero-hesperia.html>>.

(172) Source: Liz Goodwin, "L.A. riots: Good Samaritan remembers his scary truck-driver rescue." Yahoo News. 28 April 2012 <<http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/l-riots-good-samaritan-remembers-scary-truck-driver-105229769.html>>.

(173) Source: Sonia Nazario, "Mourners Say Farewell to One of Riots' Heroes." _Los Angeles Times_ (California). 2 May 1993 <<http://articles.latimes.com/1993-05-02/local/me-30352_1_peace-rally>>. Also, Michelle Malkin, "After the riots: L.A.'s forgotten angels." _Jewish World Review_. 26 April 2002 <<http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michelle/malkin042602.asp>>.

(174) Source: "Good Samaritans save lives amid terror mayhem." Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 14 September 2008 <<http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/good-samaritans-save-lives-amid-terror-mayhem_10095768.html>>.

(175) Source: Warda Meyer, "Obs petrol bomb heroine." Iol (South Africa). 17 June 2012 <<http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/obs-petrol-bomb-heroine-1.1320440>>.

(176) Source: Harry Harris, "Oakland: Good Samaritans capture three robbery suspects in one day." _Oakland Tribune_ (California). 20 June 2012 <<http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20901220/oakland-good-samaritans-capture-three-robbery-suspects-one?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com>>.

(177) Source: Kim Janssen, "Ex-con dies fighting crime." _Chicago Sun-Times_ (Illinois). 24 November 2010 <<http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2542892-418/butler-woman-street-police-died.html>>.

(178) Source: "11-year-old FL boy is a hero when he calls 911." WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). 23 June 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/national/southern-us/12007818949766/>>. Also: Carli Teproff, "Hollywood boy, home alone, calls police during home invasion." _Miami Herald_ (Florida). 22 June 2012 <<http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/21/2861979/hollywood-boy-home-alone-calls.html>>.

(179) Source: "Woman set on fire receives help from Good Samaritan." WSVN (Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida). 18 June 2012 <<http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21007766589358/woman-set-on-fire-receives-help-from-good-samaritan/>>. Also: "Naomie Breton, Set On Fire At Gas Station, Won't Pay Towing Fees, Zuccala's Wrecker Service Says." Huffington Post. 19 June 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/19/naomie-breton-set-on-fire_n_1608711.html>>.

(180) Source: Simone Weichselbaum, Rocco Parascandola and Douglas Feiden, "Fearless Brooklyn boy, 11, stabs mom's abusive boyfriend to fend off attack." _New York Daily News_. 18 June 2012 <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/fearless-brooklyn-boy-11-stabs-mom-abusive-boyfriend-fend-attack-article-1.1097453?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Flatino+%28Latino%29>.

(181) Source: Miguel Garcilazo and Larry Sutton, "GOOD SAMARITANS KO ROBBERY TRY." _New York Daily News_. 19 June 1997 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/good-samaritans-ko-robbery-article-1.764395>>.

(182) Source: Matt Dykstra, "Camper pummelled reporting suspected drunk driver." QMI Agency. 8 June 2012 <<http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2012/06/07/19851826.html>>.

(183) Source: Corina Knoll, "Suspected hit-and-run driver held in child's death in Santa Ana." _Los Angeles Times_ (California). 23 June 2012 <<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/06/hit-and-run-driver-suspect.html>>. Also: "Woman chases down fatal hit-and-run driver." UPI. 28 June 2012 <<http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/06/28/Woman-chases-down-fatal-hit-and-run-driver/UPI-54261340923957/>>.

(184) Source: Nina Mandell, "Seattle cafe hero identified as Lawrence Adams." _New York Daily News_. 1 June 2012 <http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/seattle-cafe-hero-identified-lawrence-adams-article-1.1088213>. Also: Gene Johnson, "Police: 'Hero' saved others in Seattle shootings." The Associated Press. 31 May 2012 <<http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/top-news/father-of-seattle-gunman-im-so-sorry/nPJLR/>>. Also: Jayme Fraser, "Good Samaritan tells dying woman, 'You are not alone.'" _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 31 May 2012; updated 1 June 2012 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018328068_goodsamaritan01.html>>. Also: Christine Clarridge, Hal Bernton and Susan Kelleher. "Man who threw stools at shooter: I'm no hero _."_ _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 31 May 2012 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018328071_ticktock01m.html>>.

(185) Source: Kimberly Houghton, "Nashua EMT died trying to save two women from attack." _New Hampshire Union Leader_ (Manchester, New Hampshire). 3 May 2012 <<http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120503/NEWS0701/705039977>>.

(186) Source: Associated Press, "Attack on Kenya orphanage yields $80k in donations." Fox News. 2 February 2012 <<http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/02/attack-on-kenya-orphanage-yields-80k-in-donations/>>.

(187) Source: Dawn Rhodes, Peter Nickeas and Jason Meisner, "After wallet is stolen, woman chases down suspect." _Chicago Tribune_ (Illinois). 27 January 2012 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-27/news/ct-met-woman-chases-robber-cta-20120128_1_woman-chases-wallet-entire-chase>>.

(188) Source: Ashley Kelly, "Neighbor helps man shot during Newport News home invasion." _Daily Press_ (Hampton Roads, Virginia). 23 March 2012 <<http://articles.dailypress.com/2012-03-23/news/dp-nws-home-invasion-folo-20120323_1_home-invasion-man-shot-gunshot-wound>>.

(189) Source: Derek McGinty, "Let's Be Real: Big Thanks To Good Samaritan Dave." WUSA (Washington, D.C.). 2 July 2012 <<http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=211323>>.

(190) Source: Mitch Smith, "Lost Chicago visitors get free cab fare from strangers: Tourists get lift back to hotel, lasting memory of kindness." _Chicago Tribune_ (Illinois). 20 June 2012 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-20/news/ct-talk-tourist-welcome-0620-20120620_1_cab-wrong-bus-william>>.

(191) Source: Lenore Skenazy, "When Life Hands You Lemonade..." Creators Syndicate. 28 June 2012  http://www.creators.com/liberal/lenore-skenazy/when-life-hands-you-lemonade.html>.

(192) Source: Lela Wolenetz, "Letter to the editor: Thanks to Good Samaritan for returning lost mail." _Bozeman Daily Chronicle_ (Montana). 11 June 2012 <http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/article_ce13db4a-b3de-11e1-9f5b-001a4bcf887a.html>. Also: Joyce Armour, "Letter to the editor: Thanks to the Samaritans who helped out an old lady." _Bozeman Daily Chronicle_ (Montana). 20 May 2012 <<http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/article_33641664-a137-11e1-92d3-001a4bcf887a.html>>. Also: Gail Schontzler, "Letter to editor prompts help from kind stranger." _Bozeman Daily_ _Chronicle_ (Montana). 30 March 2012 <<http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_416913b6-7a1a-11e1-8c71-001a4bcf887a.html>>.

(193) Source: Tony Rubio, "Belated thanks to an honest person." Letter to the Editor. _Cincinnati Enquirer_ (Ohio). 20 February 2012 <<http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/tag/good-samaritan/>>.

(194) Source: Eleanor Zimmerman, "Good Samaritan returned her purse." Letter to the Editor. _Pocono Record_ (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania). 17 February 2011 <http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110217/LIVING/102170316&cid=sitesearch>.

(195) Source: Don Challinor, "Kudos to good samaritan." Letter to the Editor. _Cincinnati Enquirer_ (Ohio). 21 June 2012 <<http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2012/06/21/kudos-to-good-samaritan/>>.

(196) Source: Heather McMurray, "Good Samaritan saved the day." _Belfast Telegraph_ (Ireland). 24 June 2010 <<http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/good-samaritan-saved-the-day-14853051.html>>.

(197) Source: Charlie and June Cosgrove, "Good Samaritans." Letter to the Editor. _Belfast Telegraph_ (Ireland). 18 September 2007 <<http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/good-samaritans-13477268.html>>.

(198) Source: Julie Johnson, "Good deed takes root in Santa Rosa." _Press Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, California). 19 June 2012 <<http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120619/articles/206191037>>.

(199) Source: Joe Rosato Jr., "The Little Buddha That Took on Oakland City Hall." NBC Bay Area. 21 June 2012 <<http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/The-Little-Buddha-That-Took-on-Oakland-City-Hall-159810015.html>>.

(200) Source: Elizabeth Donatelli, "Good Samaritan removing storm debris for free." WAVE (Louisville, Kentucky). 30 September 2008; updated 1 November 2008 <<http://www.wave3.com/story/9098938/good-samaritan-removing-storm-debris-for-free>>.

(201) Source: Cris Ornelas, "Local Man Fights Litter 1 Bucket At A Time." Turnto23 (Bakersfield, California). 16 May 2012 <<http://www.turnto23.com/southwest_county/31074248/detail.html>>.

(202) Source: Gregory Trotter, "Quechee Kayaker Rescued: Help Paddles by In Unlikely Form." _Valley News_ (White River Junction, Vermont). 4 August 2010 <<http://www.vnews.com/08042010/6895337.htm>>.

(203) Source: Dorothy Wilhelm, "Believe it or not, good Samaritans still exist." _News Tribune_ (Tacoma, Washington). 3 October 2010 <<http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/10/03/1366782/believe-it-or-not-good-samaritans.html>>.

(204) Source: Stacey Mulick, "UPDATED: Good samaritan helps young woman in need of urgent medical attention on I-5." _News Tribune_ (Tacoma, Washington). 1 September 2011 <<http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2011/09/01/good-samaritan-helps-young-woman-in-need-of-urgent-medical-attention-on-i-5/#storylink=misearch>>.

(205) Source: "Sydney hotel ordered to reimburse Good Samaritan." CBC News (Canada). 27 March 2012 <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/03/27/ns-stevens-delta-court.html>.

(206) Source: Alfred Joyner, "China: Quiet Hero Saves Girl from Deadly Fall." _International Business Times_. 11 June 2012 <<http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/350871/20120611/zhou-chong-building-fall-china.htm>>.

(207) Source: "What is the nicest/best thing a random stranger has done for you?" Ask Reddit. <<http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/o2k9c/what_is_the_nicestbest_thing_a_random_stranger/>>. Accessed 13 June 2012.

(208) Source: Christa Delcamp, "MBTA workers save stuffed animal." WHDH (Boston, Massachusetts). 7 June 2012 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/12007679543126/mbta-workers-save-stuffed-animal/>>.

(209) Source: Kerry Burke, Joe Kemp, and Tracy Connor, "Unemployed Brooklyn man misses job interview to save 9-month-old boy who was blown into path of oncoming subway train." _New York Daily News_. 26 June 2012; updated 27 June 2012 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/toddler-plummets-subway-tracks-wind-knocks-stroller-article-1.1102781>>. Also: Matthew Lysiak and Bill Hutchinson, "Hero who saved baby from subway tracks gets new gig after a year without a job and meets baby he saved." _New York Daily News_. 27 June 2012 <<http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/hero-saved-baby-subway-tracks-gig-a-year-a-job-article-1.1103198>>.

(210) Source: "My good deed of the day." Imgur. 2012 <<http://imgur.com/zi8VC>>.

(211) Source: Steve White, "You're getting colder... colder... Boy, 7, rescued after getting stuck in fridge while playing hide and seek." _Mirror_ (UK), 7 June 2012 <<http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-gets-stuck-in-fridge-playing-866295>>.

(212) Source: Dave Seminara, "Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return." Gadling. 25 May 2012 <<http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/>>. Also: Jean Béliveau, "Peace for the Children of the World." <<http://wwwalk.org/en/>>. Accessed 8 June 2012.

(213) Source: "Garbage truck driver saves injured man." KIRO (Seattle, Washington). 22 March 2012 <<http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/garbage-truck-driver-saves-injured-man/nLZ9q/>>. Also: "Garbage truck driver saves man." KIRO (Seattle, Washington). <<http://www.kirotv.com/videos/news/garbage-truck-driver-saves-man/vGfPX/>>. Accessed 4 June 2012.

(214) Source: "Quick-thinking garbage truck driver saves baby in runaway stroller." KOMO (Seattle, Washington). 1 June 2012 <<http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Garbage-truck-driver-hailed-as-hero-for-saving-baby-in-runaway-stroller-156400715.html>>. Also: "Quick-thinking truck driver saves baby in runaway stroller." KING 5 News (Seattle, Washington). 1 June 2012 <<http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Quick-thinking-truck-driver-saves-baby-in-runaway-stroller-156520915.html>>.

(215) Source: G.P. Tay, "Nice to find good Samaritan on the road." Letter to the Editor. _The Star_ (Malaysia). 10 January 2011 <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=focus&file=/2011/1/10/focus/7764769>.

(216) Source: Mary Bartholet, "Good Deeds | Everyday actions that inspire us." _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 21 April 2007 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/faithvalues/2003675302_gooddeeds21m.html>>.

(217) Source: "Facebook And An Honest Stranger Helped Canadian Tourist Find His Lost Camera (PHOTO)." Huffington Post. 27 June 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/facebook-finds-camera_n_1631133.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news>>. Also: Roland van Gogh, "Roland van Gogh's Photos." <http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=454308491254639&set=a.415831545102334.105454.100000264750337&type=1&theater>. Accessed 28 June 2012.

(218) Source: Changlin Li, "Boy helps reunite contractor with lost camera." _Bellevue Reporter_ (Bellevue, Washington). 24 October 2009 <<http://www.bellevuereporter.com/community/65901392.html>>.

(219) Source: "Thanks, Sam's Club Samaritan." _Press-Register_ (Mobile, Alabama). 21 January 2011 <<http://blog.al.com/press-register-commentary/2011/01/press-register_sound_off_good_1.html>>.

(220) Source: "Big-hearted finder." Kent Online (England). 2 December 2010 <<http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/december/2/big-hearted_shop_staff.aspx>>.

(221) Source: Liz Hull, "My £1,000 blew off in the wind (and I got it all back): Passers-by help grandfather retrieve cash... but for one £20." _Daily Mail_ (UK). 16 June 2012; Updated 18 June 2012 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160208/Grandfather-watched-1-000-blow-away-falling-stunned-strangers-return-penny.html>>. Also: "'Fantastic' people return £1,000 that blew away in Manchester." BBC. 18 June 2012 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18484358>>.

(222) Source: "Good Samaritans Kenneth And Kristy Allen Return Almost $13,000 To Rightful Owner (VIDEO)." Huffington Post. 27 June 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/13000-returned_n_1628762.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news>>.

(223) Source: Roseanne Colletti, "Good Samaritan reunites woman with lost engagement ring." Today. 11 June 2012; updated 12 June 2012 <<http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47768602/ns/today-good_news/>>.

(224) Source: "Diamond ring lost in Meijer returned: Good Samaritan found it over the weekend." WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Michigan). 9 April 2012 <<http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Diamond-ring-lost-in-Meijer-returned>>.

(225) Source: Billy Cox, "Good Samaritan returns wallet, $360 cash." _Sarasota Herald-Tribune_ (Florida). 6 April 2012 <<http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120406/ARTICLE/120409755>>.

(226) Source: Stephanie Stone, "ABC30 returns a $6 thousand check found in trash." KFSN (Fresno, California). 28 April 2012 <http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8640069>.

(227) Source: "OC Good Samaritan returns wallet with $10,000." KABC (Los Angeles, California). 5 April 2012 <http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/orange_county&id=8610601>. Also: "Good Samaritan returns wallet with $10,000 cash inside." Los Angeles Times (California). 6 April 2012 <<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/good-samartian-returns-wallet-with-10000-cash-inside.html>>.

(228) Source: Leslee Jaquette, "Good Samaritan returns wallet to Bellevue woman." KOMO (Seattle, Washington). 11 April 2012 <<http://bellevue.komonews.com/news/community-spirit/738199-good-samaritan-returns-wallet-bellevue-woman>>.

(229) Source: Ciaran Jones, "Good Samaritan finds woman's money on a Penylan street." Wales Online. 2 September 2011 <http://yourcardiff.walesonline.co.uk/2011/09/02/good-samaritan-finds-womans-money-on-a-penylan-street/>. Also: Ciaran Jones, "Good Samaritan Steffan refuses Christie's reward for returning £100." _South Wales Echo_. 1 October 2011 <<http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/10/01/good-samaritan-steffan-refuses-christie-s-reward-for-returning-100-91466-29518202/>>.

(230) Source: "If you found someone's wallet, would you return it?" MetaFilter (Community Weblog). May 10, 2009 <<http://www.metafilter.com/81552/If-you-found-someones-wallet-would-you-return-it>>. Also: "ArkhanJG's Profile." MetaFilter (Community Weblog). <<http://www.metafilter.com/user/35854>>. Accessed 30 May 2012.

(231) Source: Rosemary Armstrong, "Thanks to the good Samaritan. _Belfast Telegraph_ (Ireland). 30 December 2010 <<http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/thanks-to-the-good-samaritan-15042107.html>>.

(232) Source: "Good Samaritan returns money found in ATM." WSVN (Miami, Florida). 22 May 2012 <<http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21007533275499/good-samaritan-returns-money-found-in-atm/>>.

(233) Source: Sherry Grindeland, "Good deed comes with some good advice." _Seattle Times_ (Washington). 19 August 2006 <http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060819&slug=grin19e>.

(234) Source: Lester Brandt, "Letter: Thanks to a good Samaritan." Letter to the Editor. _Daily Times_ (Kerrville, Texas). 16 May 2012 <<http://dailytimes.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_b2ee7500-9fc0-11e1-a083-0019bb2963f4.html>>. Also: "Letter: Recognizing helpful teens." Letter to the Editor. _Daily Times_ (Kerrville, Texas). 15 February 2012 <http://dailytimes.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_dd5101ea-581d-11e1-81b6-0019bb2963f4.html>. Also: Ed Lehmann, "Letter: One good deed deserves another." Letter to the Editor. _Daily Times_ (Kerrville, Texas). 4 January 2012 <<http://dailytimes.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_7963ef58-3720-11e1-9cc1-0019bb2963f4.html>>

(235) Source: "American a hero in China after giving homeless woman French fries." _Los Angeles Times_. 9 May 2012 <<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/05/beijing-an-american-student-in-nanjing-has-shot-to-fame-on-the-chinese-internet-after-buying-a-packet-of-mcdonalds-french.html>>. Also: "'French Fry Brother' stirs debate on moral hunger." Xinhua (Chinese English-language newspaper). 10 May 2012 <<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-05/10/c_131579148.htm>>.

(236) Source: lovelightbug, "The Cab Driver on a Rainy Day." HelpOthers.org. 26 May 2012 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=31358>>.

(237) Source: "Shanghai taxi driver—an 'unsung hero.'" _Shanghai Daily_ (China). Xinhuanet.com. 27 May 2010 <<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2010-05/27/c_13318072.htm>>.

(238) Source: Lori Weiss, "It Ain't Over: The Business 9 Women Kept A Secret For Three Decades." Huffington Post. 20 June 2012 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/it-aint-over-the-business-secret_n_1607385.html>>. Also: "Happiness Happens. <<http://happiness-happens.com/>>. Accessed 29 June 2012.

(239) Source: "Sylvia's delight at new bike." _Sheerness Times Guardian_ (Isle of Sheppey, Kent). 27 July 2011 <<http://www.kentonline.co.uk/times_guardian/news/2011/july/27/sylvias_delight_at_new_bike.aspx>>.

(240) Source: "Kiwi good samaritan resurrects Nepal monastery's yeti legend." Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 4 April 2011 <<http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/kiwi-good-samaritan-resurrects-nepal-monasterys-yeti-legend-with-image_100521852.html>>. Also: Joanna Jolly, "'Yeti hand' replica to be returned to Nepal monastery." BBC. 28 April 2011 <<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13228780>>.

(241) Source: "Chao Wen-Cheng." Heroes of Philanthropy—Greater China. _Forbes_. 2012 <http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mgm45ejd/chao-wen-cheng/>. Accessed 25 June 2012.

(242) Source: Maverickrenegade, "Reddit, today I did a good deed for a little girl. I don't plan on having children, but the smile on her face came damn close to swaying my opinion." 2011. <<http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/emjln/reddit_today_i_did_a_good_deed_for_a_little_girl/>>.

(243) Source: "Waiter's $5,000 tip for $27 meal: 'Buy a nice car.'" Click2Houston.com. 30 May 2012 <<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47615052/ns/us_news-wonderful_world/>>.

(244) Source: Christopher Torchia, "Everest climber skips summit, rescues friend." Associated Press. 25 May 2012 <http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NEPAL_CLIMBERS_RESCUE?SITE=PASUN&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME>.

(245) Source: Marc Thompson, "Family of crash victim thanks hero: Grateful that good Samaritan was with mother." WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Michigan). 18 December 2011 <<http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/allegan_county/Family-of-crash-victim-foster-thanks-hero>>.

(246) Source: Ian Steward, "'Good Samaritan' murderer gets 16 years." Stuff (New Zealand). 10 December 2010 <<http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/4442650/Good-Samaritan-murderer-gets-16-years>>.

(247) Source: Rob Leigh, "Heroic bus driver makes sure 24 passengers are safe despite sustaining fatal injury after metal chunk flies through windscreen." _Mirror_ (UK). 3 June 2012 <<http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/heroic-bus-driver-makes-sure-861484>>. Also: Xinhua, "Driver who saved passengers after he was fatally wounded." Capitalfm (Kenya). 5 June 2012 <<http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/06/driver-who-saved-passengers-after-he-was-fatally-wounded/>>. Also: Wang Zhenghua, "Emotional farewell to hero bus driver in E China." Asia News Network ( _China Daily_ ), Shanghai. Published in the _Jakarta Post_ (Indonesia). 4 June 2012 <<http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/04/emotional-farewell-hero-bus-driver-e-china.html>>.

(248) Source: Lovelightbug, "A Warm Embrace and Presence." Helpothers.org. 5 June 2012 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=31567>>.

(249) Source: Leonard Phang, "Good Samaritan helps poverty-stricken labourer bring home wife's body and pay for funeral." _The Star_ (Malaysia). 1 January 2012 <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/1/sarawak/10185608&sec=sarawak>.

(250) Source: Sharon Wright, "Fallen Chicago Firefighter Receives Headstone 60 Years Later." NBC Chicago. 23 June 2012 <<http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Fallen-Chicago-Firefighter-Recieves-Headstone-60-Years-Later-160136835.html>>.

