Ep. 50 - Pancakes for Roger: A Veteran's Legacy
04/20/25 • 60 min
A plate of pancakes became the catalyst for a nationwide veterans support movement in this remarkable story of love, legacy, and service. After Susan Combs' father, Major General Roger Combs—who served 39 years across three military branches—developed Agent Orange-related cancer, one poignant morning changed everything. Unable to eat due to his feeding tube, he simply stated: "I want pancakes for breakfast." This heartbreaking moment eventually sparked what would become Pancakes for Roger, a nonprofit creating pathways to improve veterans' lives.
Susan shares the raw emotional journey from personal grief to purposeful action. What began as a social media tribute evolved into an annual February campaign where pancake photos trigger donations supporting veterans' causes, most notably the University of Missouri Veterans Legal Clinic providing free legal services for VA claims. Their latest campaign generated an impressive $13,000 and drew participation from all 50 states and six continents.
Beyond fundraising, Pancakes for Roger partners with smaller veteran organizations where modest financial support creates outsized impact. From construction projects for disabled veterans to mental health crisis support through QRF Up, these collaborations address immediate needs without bureaucratic delays. Susan's philosophy resonates throughout: "Small nonprofits can change lives with $2,000 that would barely register at a large foundation."
The organization's future looks promising with weightlifting competitions dubbed "Dragon Slayer" events, community outreach initiatives, and plans to establish an endowment for veteran micro-grants. Susan's book, "Pancakes for Roger: A Mentorship Guide for Slaying Dragons," furthers her father's legacy through wisdom and life lessons while generating additional support for veterans' causes.
Want to transform breakfast into meaningful change? Visit pancakesforroger.org to learn how you can host a pancake event, donate to their mission, or connect veterans with crucial resources. Together, we can ensure veterans receive the support, recognition, and community they've earned through their service.
A plate of pancakes became the catalyst for a nationwide veterans support movement in this remarkable story of love, legacy, and service. After Susan Combs' father, Major General Roger Combs—who served 39 years across three military branches—developed Agent Orange-related cancer, one poignant morning changed everything. Unable to eat due to his feeding tube, he simply stated: "I want pancakes for breakfast." This heartbreaking moment eventually sparked what would become Pancakes for Roger, a nonprofit creating pathways to improve veterans' lives.
Susan shares the raw emotional journey from personal grief to purposeful action. What began as a social media tribute evolved into an annual February campaign where pancake photos trigger donations supporting veterans' causes, most notably the University of Missouri Veterans Legal Clinic providing free legal services for VA claims. Their latest campaign generated an impressive $13,000 and drew participation from all 50 states and six continents.
Beyond fundraising, Pancakes for Roger partners with smaller veteran organizations where modest financial support creates outsized impact. From construction projects for disabled veterans to mental health crisis support through QRF Up, these collaborations address immediate needs without bureaucratic delays. Susan's philosophy resonates throughout: "Small nonprofits can change lives with $2,000 that would barely register at a large foundation."
The organization's future looks promising with weightlifting competitions dubbed "Dragon Slayer" events, community outreach initiatives, and plans to establish an endowment for veteran micro-grants. Susan's book, "Pancakes for Roger: A Mentorship Guide for Slaying Dragons," furthers her father's legacy through wisdom and life lessons while generating additional support for veterans' causes.
Want to transform breakfast into meaningful change? Visit pancakesforroger.org to learn how you can host a pancake event, donate to their mission, or connect veterans with crucial resources. Together, we can ensure veterans receive the support, recognition, and community they've earned through their service.
Previous Episode
Ep. 49 - Finding Your Path: How American Corporate Partners Transforms Veteran And Active Duty Spouses Careers
The journey from military service to civilian career success can be one of the most challenging transitions many veterans and military spouses face. In this enlightening conversation with Victoria Thompson from American Corporate Partners (ACP), we uncover a powerful resource that's transforming thousands of veterans' lives through personalized mentorship.
Victoria shares her own compelling journey – from joining the Army at 17 and serving in Psychological Operations to navigating college as a veteran and building a career while supporting her military spouse lifestyle. Her firsthand experience with the "otherness" many veterans feel when reentering civilian life provides authentic context for the work she now does helping others bridge that gap.
At the heart of this episode is the remarkable story of ACP, a nonprofit founded in 2008 that has grown from serving 300 veterans to maintaining approximately 5,000 mentorship pairs at any given time. The program pairs veterans and military spouses with corporate professionals who guide them through the complexities of career transition – from translating military skills on resumes to navigating salary negotiations and professional networking.
What makes ACP unique? Unlike many resources, they focus on meaningful employment rather than just job placement. Their comprehensive human-driven approach (no AI here!) includes one-on-one mentorship lasting a full year with regular check-ins and personalized support. Perhaps most impressive is their track record: proteges who find jobs during mentorship average starting salaries exceeding $90,000, and remarkably, only about 45% have four-year degrees.
The conversation explores how networking has become increasingly critical in today's job market, where AI screening systems often filter out qualified candidates. Victoria shares practical insights about how veterans can overcome common transition challenges, from imposter syndrome to difficulty articulating military experience in civilian terms.
Ready to transform your own transition or support a veteran in your life? Discover how ACP's free mentorship program is building bridges to meaningful careers and restoring hope for the military community. Visit acp-usa.org to learn more or volunteer as a mentor yourself.
The VetsConnection Podcast - Ep. 50 - Pancakes for Roger: A Veteran's Legacy
Transcript
Welcome to the podcast . I'm Scott McLean .
Scott McLeanMy guest today is Susan Combs . Susan is the founder of Pancakes for Roger , an organization that creates pathways to improve the lives of veterans and their communities . How are you doing , Susan ?
Susan CombsI'm good . How are you ?
Scott McIf you like this episode you’ll love
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