Punctuation – Naked, Afraid, and On The Run

You're barely correct if you write:
"An angry bear chased me through the woods in 1986 when it saw me without my clothes at the lake."

However, there's no wrong choice here. A matter of style is more recent where people commonly drop the comma. No bodies will be found dead if and when you do.

Very good, both of you.

Yes, but how about this:
An angry bear chased me through the woods in 1986 when George Deukmejian was re-elected Governor of California.
An angry bear chased me through the woods in 1986, when George Deukmejian was re-elected Governor of California.
Isn't a comma required here?

Same situation as before. You're not changing the scenario significantly. The first one is fine.

The problem is not understanding punctuation! It sarts with
Volume-no. and goes all the way down to the humble and much overworked comma.

Well constructed English seldom needs punctuating. If it does not read with a natural rythm - write it again! Commas only in place of parentheses.
Ken Green