FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Fort Carson paid somber tribute Wednesday to 15 of its soldiers killed in Afghanistan last month, the worst single month for combat deaths the post has endured since the Vietnam War.

Eight soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division were killed in a single battle on Oct. 3, and seven soldiers from the 4th Engineer Battalion were killed in three separate incidents.

The 4th Infantry soldiers were honored at a service in the Soldiers' Memorial Chapel at midday. A second service was scheduled later in the day for the others.

Chuckles rippled through the nearly full chapel as letters were read from soldiers still in Afghanistan recounting the fallen troops' lives and praising their bravery and friendship.

"I would have followed that man straight to hell if he thought it was a good idea," one letter said of Sgt. Joshua T. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine.

Maj. Dan Chandler said each of the eight 4th Infantry soldiers enlisted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"They were helping to make a difference when they were taken from us," he said.

The others killed in that battle were Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.; Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25, Savannah, Ga.; Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, Applegate, Calif.; Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, Villas, N.J.; Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, Kincheloe, Mich.; Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, Lovettsville, Va.; and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, Reno, Nev.

Across the front of the chapel, each fallen soldier was represented in the Army tradition with his portrait, a pair of boots and an M-4 rifle, standing muzzle-down with a helmet resting atop it and dog tags dangling from the pistol grip. The boots had spurs with black straps, signifying the eight were members of a cavalry regiment.

A soldier sobbed quietly at the back of the chapel as Sgt. Major Leslie Frye called the roll, pausing silently after he twice called out the name of each man killed.

Outside the chapel, seven riflemen fired three volleys in a 21-gun salute, and a bugle played taps.

Army Secretary John McHugh attended the service but didn't speak. He was also scheduled to attend the second service and then hold a news conference.

The 4th Engineer Battalion soldiers were Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison Jr., 34, of Blairsville, Pa.; Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 23, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Spc. Jesus O. Flores, 28, La Mirada, Calif.; Spc. Daniel C. Lawson, 33, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 25, Tampa, Fla.; Spc. Kimble A. Han, 30, Lehi, Utah; and Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, 19, Lancaster, Pa.

Fort Carson said 32 soldiers from the post have been killed in Afghanistan and 255 have been killed in Iraq. Officials said they did not know the exact month and year when the post had more soldiers killed in combat but said it was in Vietnam.

"This tragic loss of life is the ultimate reminder of the sacrifice that members of the military make to defend our freedoms. As a community and a country, it’s vital that we honor their lives, their bravery and their heroism," Gov. Bill Ritter said. "It is with a heavy heart that I ask all Coloradans to join with me to keep those who laid down their lives, as well as the loved ones they leave behind, in our thoughts and prayers."

Those remembered at the service, broken down by their regiment:

4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division:
Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team
Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team
Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team
Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team
Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team

4th Engineer Battalion:
Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison Jr., 576th Mobility Augmentation Company
Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 569th Mobility Augmentation Company
Spc. Jesus O. Flores, 569th Mobility Augmentation Company
Spc. Daniel C. Lawson, 569th Mobility Augmentation Company
Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 569th Mobility Augmentation Company
Spc. Kimble A. Han, 569th Mobility Augmentation Company
Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, 569th Mobility Augmentation Company