Staff Sergeant Drew Donis Lufkin: Age: 42

Staff Sergeant Drew Donis Lufkin served 15 years in the U.S. military including six years in the Army Reserve and nine years on active duty in the Army. His Military Operation Specialty (MOS) was Infantryman eight years and five months and Counterintelligence Agent for four years and five months. His decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons awarded included Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Army Achievement Medal, USA/USAF Presidential Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal; two awards, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign star, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, two awards, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge.

SSG Lufkin was born March 22, 1983, in Millinocket, Maine, to his parents, Clyde and Cathy Lufkin. Millinocket is the gateway to Mount Katahdin, voted World’s Best Hike by National Geographic and home to the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. He was reared in nearby East Millinocket, and while in high school, he participated in basketball and cross country running, and he was a member of the National Vocational Technical Honor Society. In addition, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Schenck High School in East Millinocket, Maine on June 1, 2001.

After his high school graduation, SSG Lufkin joined the Army Reserve on July 27, 2001, and served six years as a truck driver for one weekend per month and two weeks during the summer. His civilian employment during this time included working as a park ranger; however, he was diagnosed with leukemia and received chemotherapy treatments for 2.5 years.

SSG Lufkin’s battle with cancer was successful, and he resumed military service with the U.S Army at Ft. Benning, GA, where he completed 14 weeks of Basic Training in August 2007. This was followed by participation in the Army’s Airborne School in a three-week course that trains soldiers in the skills needed to be paratroopers. He then participated in RIP, the Ranger Indoctrination Program, which is the initial training and assessment program for soldiers seeking to join the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. It is a rigorous, physically and mentally one month course designed to evaluate a soldier’s suitability for the Regiment. He completed RIP October 31, 2007.

SSG Lufkin’s active-duty service assignments at Fr. Benning included a total of six years with three years serving with the 3rd Ranger Battalion and three years at Headquarters, 75th Ranger Regiment working in intelligence. During service at Ft. Benning, he was deployed to Afghanistan three times with the 3rd Ranger Battalion during 2008, 2010 and 2012 where he served as an assistant machine gunner, gun team leader and fire team leader. He also deployed to Iraq in 2009. After serving at Ft. Benning, he served with the 4th Brigade 25th Infantry Division (Airborne) at Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska, for three years. In 2014, he received an online BS Degree in Intelligence Studies from the American Military University. Because of an atrial fibrillation condition, SSG Lufkin was medically retired from military service on January 7, 2016.

After his military retirement, SSG Lufkin used the G.I. Bill and graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering August 2, 2019. After getting his degree, he worked for three years in Auburn, AL, with IS4S, a contracting company in which he worked on research and development for autonomous tractor-trailer convoys. Then he began graduate studies at Auburn University working on a Master’s Degree in Finance.

In 2018, SSG Lufkin began volunteering with Operation Ruck, an organization to prevent veterans’ suicide. Rucking can refer to walking with a weighted backpack which is also known as a rucksack. This organization provides the necessary support for veterans and their families through a variety of programs and services, and 100% of donations go toward outreach and support to veterans. Organizations receiving support from Operation Ruck are: 1. Three Hots and Cot which provides a safe place for homeless veterans. (2.) Mission 22 which supports veterans and their families providing long-term wellness. (3.) Bill Nichols Veterans Home which provides services in a senior-living facility. (4.) Tuskegee VA Home which provides assistance for homeless veterans. (5.) Houston Project which provides assistance for struggling veterans and raising awareness for veterans suffering from depression, PTSD and CTE from concussions. In the days preceding the Iron Bowl football game, students from The University of Alabama Chapter of Student Veterans of America and Auburn University Student Veterans Association lay the Iron Bowl rivalry aside and together ruck the Iron Bowl game ball from the visiting team’s stadium to the home team’s stadium. At each Iron Bowl, veterans, ROTC and veteran alumni from both Auburn and Alabama make a 151-mile ruck starting at the away team’s stadium and ending at the home team’s stadium. Complete information about Operation Ruck can be found at the web site: https://www.operationironruck.com In addition, on August 16, 2025, a 5K ruck, Operation Iron Ruck Day Zero, will be held at Wind Creek State Park at Lake Martin from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The 2025 Operation Iron Ruck will be November 26-29, 2025.

SSG Lufkin has two children. He is a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Auburn Student Veterans Association, the University of Alabama Chapter of Student Veterans Association and the Church of the Highlands.s

SSG Lufkin’s conclusions about what serving in the U.S. military has meant to him are: “I had just graduated from high school when September 2011 occurred. Remembering every single American that died that day, if you want to hurt us, we are going to take the fight to you. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Serving the greater good, I feel like it was an honor to serve my country as it is something bigger than you.” He would like to be remembered as someone that was actually there for people when it mattered.