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FORT CARSON, COLO. -- On Wednesday, Fort Carson paid tribute to nine soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

They were all members of the 4th Infantry Division.

"They're all heroes," Lt. Col. Jeffrey Houston, 4th Infantry Division Chaplain, said. "They're all soldiers who heard freedom's call and did their duty. They gave the ultimate sacrifice so the people of Afghanistan could work toward freedom."

Five were riding in the same heavily-armed vehicle when they were killed by a roadside bomb in August - Capt.. Dale Goetz of White, S.D.; Staff Sgt. Kevin Kessler of Canton, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante of Cypress, Texas; Staff Sgt. Matthew West of Conover, Wis. and Spc. Chad Clements, of Huntington, Ind.

Goetz is the first Army Chaplain to be killed in combat since Vietnam.  He's received more than a dozen awards and decorations, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

"We're very sad that happened," Houston said. "But his legacy is that his ministry will continue.  He was doing his job, traveling to see soldiers and to minister to soldiers, and he died with a fine group of Americans who were all doing their duty. I have a picture that was taken down range at his memorial ceremony on the ground in Afghanistan, and I'm going to have that blown up, and I'm going to frame it and keep it where I can see it the rest of my life."

Kessler joined the Army in 2004 and was assigned to Fighter Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment as a Section Sergeant last year.  His superiors said he was a true warrior with the ability to motivate his fellow soldiers in stressway times. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal with Valor.

Infante served two tours in Iraq as a squad leader and section chief. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal.  He was respected both as a leader and an individual by his soldiers.

West was an explosive ordnance team leader with the 62nd ordnance company. He was passionate about being an EOD soldier and team leader, and always placed the welfare of his team before himself.  He was an exceptional mentor and received the the Army Commendation Medal 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal, among others.

Clements joined the Army in February of 2009. He's remembered as a natural soldier who loved his brothers and sisters-in-arms, with a positive attitude that boosted the morale and performance of those around him.  His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

First Lt. Mark Noziska of Papillon, Neb. and Staff Sgt. Casey Grochowiak of Lompoc, Calif. were killed by a roadside bomb Aug. 30.

Noziska served as Platoon Leader for 1st Platoon, Dealer Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. He trained his platoon above and beyond the standard for deployment and declined an invitation to attend Ranger school, saying he'd rather have the opportunity to deploy with his platoon to Afghanistan. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal, among others.

Grochowiak worked in construction before enlisting in the Army in 1999. In 2005 he was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base as a Ranger Instructor in the Ranger Training Battalion.  He served as the 1st Squad Leader of 1st Platoon, training soldiers for deployment to Afghanistan. He embodied the values set forth in the Ranger Creed and received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal, among others.

Spc. Pedro A. Millet Meletiche of Elizabeth, N.J. and Spc. Timothy Johnson of Randolph, N.Y died of wounds in separate attacks.

Meletiche was born in Puerto Rico and joined the Army in 2008.  Last year he was assigned to headquarters, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment during the Brigade's provisional phase and later reassigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company "Crazyhorse" as a tank crewman/loader.  He's remembered as a natural soldier who always had the ability to make his brothers-in-arms smile. Among his medals and decorations are the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and National Defense Service Medal.

Johnson deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed with Alpha Company out of Fort Carson in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in August of 2010.  He was awarded the Bronze Star,  Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal, among others.

"All nine were great soldiers who gave their lives in service in the defense of people that live far away, in defense of our nation.  All were exceptionally unique individuals," Maj. Michael Birmingham of the 4th Infantry Division said.  "You have to focus on what the soldiers died for, which is each other.  We focus the soldiers on taking care of each other and taking care of the mission."

He said the loss is felt both here at home and abroad.

"It becomes very personal for much more people.  It has an effect both on the battlefield and back here at Fort Carson," Birmingham said. "It affects not only the immediate families, but all the families of the entire unit and raises waves of anxiety, but in some ways it also increases the level of morale because the soldiers there know that they haven't died in vain, and it gives the soldiers a sense of purpose to accomplish their mission and continue the mission that those soldiers died for."