There are no shortages of Christmas stories all across the Internet that can cause a leaking of tears. But one story that changed children started in 1955, when NORAD became Santa Trackers. And it was all because of a typo and Col Harry Shoup’s good-natured sense of humor. For the last 68 years, NORAD has been “tracking Santa” around the globe as he delivers gifts to children. Little kids can call 24/7 to check and see where Santa is on his magical journey.
The NORAD mission began as a typo in 1955.
At the Continental Air Defense Command, Col. Harry Shoup’s secret hotline number was, well, a secret that only two people knew about – one 4-Star General at the Pentagon and himself. That is until a Colorado Springs newspaper accidentally published it.
Terri remembers her dad had two phones on his desk, including a red one. “Only a four-star general at the Pentagon and my dad had the number,” she says.
“This was the ’50s, this was the Cold War, and he would have been the first one to know if there was an attack on the United States,” Rick says.
The red phone rang one day in December 1955, and Shoup answered it, Pam says. “And then there was a small voice that just asked, ‘Is this Santa Claus?’ “
His children remember Shoup as straight-laced and disciplined, and he was annoyed and upset by the call and thought it was a joke — but then, Terri says, the little voice started crying.
“And Dad realized that it wasn’t a joke,” her sister says. “So he talked to him, ho-ho-ho’d and asked if he had been a good boy and, ‘May I talk to your mother?’ And the mother got on and said, ‘You haven’t seen the paper yet? There’s a phone number to call Santa. It’s in the Sears ad.’ Dad looked it up, and there it was, his red phone number. And they had children calling one after another, so he put a couple of airmen on the phones to act like Santa Claus.” NPR
That day at NORAD was the beginning of a military tradition that has excited children for 68 years. All because of a typo in a local paper, and an Air Force Colonel with a joyful sense of humor. Before anyone starts in on how “wrong” this is let’s just say that joy for children in this crazed world is difficult. They’re afraid of the world ending from propaganda about climate change. They’re afraid of everything from Trump supporters to Godzilla, thanks to adults who refuse to see Christmas as The Gift of Jesus as Savior. Jolly Old Saint Nick knew all about that, you know. So let the kids have fun!
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Take an inside look at our NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center as we track #Santa on his magical journey today!
Track with #NORAD at https://t.co/7afKWWcryj#NORADSanta #SantaTracker #NORADTracksSanta #santaclaus #merrychristmas pic.twitter.com/NsKxdPvuyo— NORAD Tracks Santa (@NoradSanta) December 24, 2023
Santa is making a special stop for the astronauts at the International Space Station! Find out where he will go next at https://t.co/6qfPToRTlNhttps://t.co/pwuCxiDDyg
— NORAD Tracks Santa (@NoradSanta) December 24, 2023
#NORADTracksSanta is following the heat signature from Rudolph’s nose to Dubai as Santa flies over the Arabian Peninsula.https://t.co/UVuyzrCgDr
— NORAD Tracks Santa (@NoradSanta) December 24, 2023
SOUND ON! Hear a #SantaTracker answering in Japanese for #Santa‘s location! #NORADTracksSanta❤️’s to answer calls from worldwide! Fun Fact: NORAD Tracks Santa website is offered in 9 languages! https://t.co/7afKWWcryj#NORAD #NORADSanta #santaclaus #Christmas #merrychristmas pic.twitter.com/5AtjhxtDy6
— NORAD Tracks Santa (@NoradSanta) December 24, 2023
The 21st Civil Engineer Squadron at Peterson Space Force Base has partnered with NORAD to make sure everything is ready to go in the operations center. Look at those beautiful flags being hung from the hangar with care. 😍🇨🇦🇺🇸😍 Thank you 21st CE Squadron!!!!
— NORAD Tracks Santa (@NoradSanta) December 21, 2023
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