When American children were Santa Claus

During World War I, the USS Jason usually carried coal to fire U.S. Navy dreadnoughts. But in 1914, President Wilson let her set sail from New York harbor with 5 million Christmas presents bound for children in England and Europe whose fathers were fighting and dying in combat.

Nicknamed "The Santa Claus Ship," its cargo included 12,000 tons of stockings, petticoats, sweets, nuts, gloves, toys and other gifts. Stopping first in Plymouth, Devon, it unloaded presents for children across England, starting with those whose fathers had been killed in battle. The humanitarian mission resulted from a huge charity drive which started in Chicago but quickly spread across the United States. Fatherless English children who expected no Christmas gifts that year were thrilled to receive even the smallest present from boys and girls across the ocean in America.

Student has no time to be scared

As reported by Mary Keck in The Herald-Times of Bloomington, Indiana, USA, 11-year-old Logan Combs, who attends Grandview Elementary School, is being called a hero because of something he did during the ride home from school on December 10. As bus No. 186 turned left from State Road 45, Logan (shown below with his younger brother) saw the driver slump in his seat. Logan went to the driver and pushed the brake pedal until the bus stopped. "I know the big one's go and the little one's stop," he explained about the pedals. Then he saw a semi truck in the rear view mirror. It was speeding and its breaks were screeching but Logan knew it could not stop before hitting the bus, so he pushed the "big" pedal and moved the bus forward just enough to avoid a crash. Then the bus driver regained consciousness and took control.

                                                                                                   Photo by Jeremy Hogan / Herald-Times
Logan has trouble thinking of himself as a hero. "That was just one of those things that there's not a lot of time to be scared," he said.

What's wrong with this picture?

In the 1950's, children on Christmas vacation from school were told to "go out and play, but be home by dark." As playing outdoors became more dangerous, many kids enjoyed the safety of indoor sports like roller skating or bowling. But today? Well, see for yourself.

Absent Dad included in Christmas photo

Staff Sergeant Joshua Beugh was serving in Kuwait during the 2014 Christmas holidays, but his wife Katrina wanted to include him in the photo on their family Christmas card. Her clever solution, shown here, will warm your heart.

Thankfully, the family was together this Christmas in St. Augustine, Florida. Katrina says, "The holidays are so much more meaningful when we are all together. My heart is with everyone this year who has a loved one deployed."

Nothing can overpower community effort

Ron and Stephanie Martin of Yuma, AZ, wanted to honor a friend who loved the outdoors, so they donated $100,000 to fund a creative playground. Land was acquired in 2005, and 5,000 school children gave design suggestions. The Yuma community donated another $450,000, and in 2007, 8,000 volunteers built the park, shown below, in ten days.

It features a castle, dragon slide, climbing wall, airplanes, a giant spider web and a tree house tower. Kids loved it until Christmas, 2014, when an arsonist set fire to the park. It was a total loss, but within a week after the fire local residents raised $70,000 to rebuild it. Then the City of Yuma learned insurance would fully cover the loss, and the insurance settlement included labor. Using the $70,000 to add new features enjoyed by both abled and disabled kids, the park rose from the ashes, better than before. Construction began last September, and on Dec. 19, 2015, it reopened, proving that nothing is stronger than community effort.

Chinese may never have Obamacare, but...

Residents of Juanxin village outside of Chongqing have 36-year-old Dr. Ji Zhengyong. When Dr. Ji was only 14, he lost his right leg in a car accident. His recovery cost him a year of school, but as soon as he graduated he began studying medicine in order to help others who are suffering. In 2003, he opened a practice in his hometown, walking to his patients' homes on one leg. Over the past 12 years, he has worn out 45 crutches.

One of his many patients, Qin Tiansu, was confined to bed after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage last year. His family had no money to send him to a hospital for treatment, but Dr. Ji visited regularly to care for him and bring him medicine, never asking for any payment. Qin can now walk again. "Dr. Ji is my savior," he says.

Villages regard Dr. Ji as "an angel in white," but he says "I've simply done what any doctor is supposed to do."

Sweet memory found at grocery story

Today's Crumb was contributed by a faithful reader in southern California. Kimberly Grandinette of Ohio was waiting in the check out line at Meijer's with her 3-year-old son Paul recently when she struck up a conversation with the cashier, Kristen Clark. Kimberly confided to Kristen that her infant son was in the hospital and this was upsetting to her older son, Paul. Then Paul asked the cashier if he could help ring up their groceries.

                                                                                         Photo by Kimberly Grandinette
Kristen said "Certainly," and brought the boy behind the register with her, picking him up. "She was so patient as she let him help scan the coupons," said Kimberly on Facebook. "She made him feel like a million bucks. He skipped out of the store with a smile on his face." Kristen, a community college student, was surprised by how much attention her photo received on Facebook. She said she likes to get to know people, even if it's only for three minutes as they are checking out.