Decades ago, NPR contributor and contributing editor at Esquire A.J. Jacobs and his sister got horribly lost in remote Alaska. Recently, he's been trying to find the group of strangers who came to his aid that day. A.J. shares this story, which he's written up in The New York Times, and listeners share their stories of the long-lost strangers they want to thank.

→ Sending Out an S.O.S.

@BrianLehrer 2 wks after HS grad in 69 I almost drowned at the Jersey shore. A classmate whom I didn't know but was there because he knew one of the other girls was brave enough to pull me in when I was unable to help myself. Wish I could remember his name.

@BrianLehrer When I was about 11 years old I went to Long Beach with my friend & parents. I’m not sure why I was by myself in the water, but a wave hit me, I couldn’t get footing - I was panicking and probably drowning. Someone - not a lifeguard pulled me out. Forever grateful.

A stranger noticed I hadn't properly locked my bike so they locked it with their own lock and left a typed note under my seat with instructions on how to unlock their lock.

I would thank two women at Co-op City in the Bronx. I had driven there—taking my elderly father home—but once out of the car I had to hold him up as he was unable to stand. These passersby climbed into my car and pulled my father into the back seat.

@BrianLehrer thank you to the bus driver the week after 9/11 who found my phone on his bus! and took the time to drive the bus to meet me where i was at the end of his shift! nyc always gives us her best! xo

57 years ago I fell through the ice while skating in Chicago and four young hockey players pulled me out. It was only a few months ago that I found a list of their names in the “baby book“ my mother had made for me. I asked on Facebook if anybody knew them. I found & thanked them

@BrianLehrer about 18 years ago I got off a redeye from CA and took a cab home. I had my bag on the backseat but my laptop bag was at my feet against the partition. I left it in the cab. Bad enough, but worse, my immigration papers were in there. 1/2