How a Child’s Call to the U.S. Air Force Sparked a 70-Year Santa Tracker Tradition
It all started with a simple mistake and a child’s innocent question, and what followed became a heartwarming tradition that spans more than seven decades. It was December 1955 when the first call to track Santa was made—one that would change Christmas forever. The story goes back to a small slip-up, which inadvertently led to the creation of a beloved holiday event that today reaches millions of children worldwide.
It was early in the month when the phone rang at the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) base in Colorado Springs. At the time, the officers on duty were focused on a much more serious task—monitoring the skies for any potential threats during the Cold War. But this call wasn’t about national security. It was a young child, nervously asking, “Is this Santa Claus?”
Colonel Harry Shoup, the officer in charge that night, initially thought it was a prank. According to his daughter, Terri Van Keuren, who was only six years old at the time, her father responded with his usual serious tone, “I’m the commander of the Combat Alert Center. Who’s this?” When the child started to cry and asked if he was one of “Santa’s helpers,” Colonel Shoup quickly realized the mistake. He decided to embrace the role, responding with a cheerful “Ho-ho-ho!” The child was thrilled, and from there, an unintentional holiday tradition was born.
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So how did a child end up calling a top-secret military number? It turns out that the American department store Sears had run an advertisement for children to call Santa, but the phone number was printed with one wrong digit. Instead of reaching Santa, children were connected to the air defense base, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The following Christmas, Colonel Shoup’s team continued to answer calls as Santa, delighting children and families alike. The tradition quickly grew, and by Christmas Eve 1955, Colonel Shoup was playfully announcing over the radio that they had “an unidentified flying object”—which, of course, turned out to be Santa’s sleigh.
As the years passed, what started as a quirky mix-up became a full-fledged operation. Today, the tradition is carried on by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the successor to CONAD. Every year, NORAD tracks Santa’s journey, updating children on his whereabouts and spreading holiday joy. Volunteers at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado answer thousands of calls, and NORAD's tracking is available online and through social media platforms, bringing the magic of Santa's journey into homes across the globe.
For over a decade, Terri Van Keuren, now an adult, has volunteered to help answer the calls herself, proudly wearing a shirt that reads, “My dad’s the Santa Colonel.” She reflects on the lasting legacy of her father’s unexpected role in launching this global tradition. Colonel Shoup’s decision to play along with the curious child’s question all those years ago became a symbol of the joy and magic that Christmas brings.
Now, millions of children and adults alike eagerly track Santa each year, thanks to the festive mix-up that sparked a tradition that has lasted for over 70 years. Whether you’re calling in to ask where Santa is or watching NORAD’s live updates, this heartwarming story of kindness, humor, and a little holiday magic continues to bring families together year after year.
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