Fear & Loading: How NORAD Saved Santa

by
posted on December 24, 2015

Members of our military guard the front line of freedom, even on Christmas Eve, but six decades ago, those manning their stations at the U.S. Continental Air Defense Command went above and beyond the call of duty and inadvertently spread a holiday spirit that continues to this day.  

It was Dec. 24, 1955, and USAF Col. Harry Shoup fielded the first call. A little girl on the other end of the line dialed a wrong number listed in a Sears and Roebuck advertisement. She had no idea she was connected a NORAD hotline when she asked to speak to Santa.

That was serious stuff back at the height of the Cold War, but long before marketing gurus termed the phrase “adapt and overcome,” Col. Shoup explained Saint Nicholas was aloft, on the radar and safely delivering packages. Calls flooded in, and the rest of the staff on duty followed his lead, providing an “all’s well” status and along with a position.

A lot has changed since that fateful first call 60 years ago, but the tradition is more popular than ever. Today children of all ages can visit NORAD’s official Santa tracker to watch his progress (even on a smartphone or tablet). The website has games, holiday music, virtual tours of workshops at the North Pole, sleigh technical data and more. It’s hypnotizing to my youngest grandson.

Every year more than 1,000 uniformed and civilian volunteers staff the facility to answer e-mails, tweet and keep everyone updated. A dedicated YouTube channel includes videos and trailers, and one short video even explains how that wrong number launched the program.

To all the men and women in our nation’s uniforms standing guard on the front line of freedom this holiday season, thank you. Your services don’t always garner headlines, or earn medals, but sometimes those seemingly little duties—like Col Shoup’s patience on Christmas Eve—make a huge difference, and define exactly why this is the greatest nation on earth.   


Latest

Herring Model 2024
Herring Model 2024

Herring Model 2024: Fightlite’s Evolutionary Inevitability

Modern problems require modern solutions, and FightLite’s innovative Herring Model 2024 proves that the lever gun can still be more than just a relic of a bygone age.

The Armed Citizen® Feb. 10, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

New For 2025: Smith & Wesson CSX E-Series

Smith & Wesson has updated its hammer-fired CSX with new E-Series models, featuring enhancements to its trigger, optics-mounting system and additional texturing. A model with an extended barrel is also available, too.

Preview: Offical U.S. Army Pistol Training Manual

The Official U.S. Army Pistol Training Manual as published by the Dept. of the Army and now made available by Lyons Press.

Twisted Sisters: The PX4 G-SD From Beretta & Langdon Tactical Technology

Beretta's PX4 Storm never caught the full attention of the American shooting public, but with recent updates, along with Langdon Tactical Technology's work on the platform, this DA/SA semi-automatic is worth a second look.

Preview: Ultradyne Orbit Ballhead

In recent times, tripods have proven to be an effective foundation for delivering long shots on target, which is where Ultradyne’s Orbit Ballhead comes into play.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.