In partnership with the NFL and USAA, New Orleans Saints Defensive End Cam Jordan surprised U.S. Army Reserve veteran Keara Torkelson with a pair of Super Bowl LIX tickets. Jordan has a long history of supporting the military; his grandfather served in the Army and uncle in the Navy.
Keara Torkelson has nearly a decade of service with the U.S. Army Reserve (2006-2013), achieving the rank of sergeant. Having joined the Army right out of high school, Sgt. Torkelson served as a human resources specialist, completing basic and career training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. In 2009, while preparing to deploy Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she was unfortunately a victim in the Fort Hood shooting. She suffered gunshot wounds to her back and to her head and was medically retired in 2013 due to injuries sustained in the attack. After the attack at Fort Hood, Sgt. Torkelson received a Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal and met with President Barack Obama. Following her military career, she pursued a career in photography and continues serving her community and fellow veterans through various mentorship and volunteer efforts. Keara lives in the suburbs of Kansas City with her husband, Joe, and their children. A house divided, Keara is a lifelong fan of the Kansas City Chiefs while her husband Joe supports the Minnesota Vikings.
Jordan was honored to present Torkelson with the tickets. In an interview with WATM outside USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge at the Super Bowl Experience in New Orleans, Jordan shared, “The fact that she’s from Kansas and her team is here is so exciting. But then for her to come to New Orleans? She’s coming from the land of tomahawk steaks to the land of crawfish and oysters. It means everything to me to be able to give back to her.”