When I heard that a samurai sword-wielding madman attacked a firefighter, severing his hand, I immediately thought of a man long ago with blood-sucking leeches on his fingers. But more on that later.

MACON, Ga. — Chad Wombles thought he was dying. Sixteen days ago, a stranger had attacked him with a samurai sword outside a Wrightsville gas station. One swing of the blade severed his right hand ...