FORT LEWIS, Wash. -- Soldiers at Fort Lewis spent a somber day on Wednesday as they honored six servicemen from the 3rd Stryker brigade killed in Iraq.

Two separate bomb blasts in Baghdad killed the six soldiers, all within three days. Wednesday's memorial ceremony left typically-stoic soldiers choked up.

The front of the Main Post Chapel at Fort Lewis was lined with six sets of empty Army boots, dog tags, helmets and rifles.

"They represent six servicemen and the cost of war," said Major Kyle Marsh.

Spc. Clayton Lazar said Wednesday's memorial ceremony was the fourth he attended at Fort Lewis.

"It tugs at your heart, and doesn't matter if know people or not," he said, fighting back tears for fallen brothers he's never even met.

"Very emotional to lose soldiers who are in more or less dangerous situations than you and make the ultimate sacrifice,"

Rows of soldiers stared at the faces of the fallen soldiers in their program. They were highly-decorated members of the Strkyer brigade who left behind grieving parents, four widows and eleven children,who are now left with only memories of their fathers.

"They were men of character, men of honor," Marsh said.

Those who knew the soldiers remembered Pfc. Charles Heinlein Jr. as the soldier who volunteered for jobs nobody wanted, Spc. Alfred Jairala as everybody's big brother and Staff Sgt. Fernando Santos as the best squad leader around.

Soldiers described Spc. Zachariah Gonzalez as the unselfish one who loved making people laugh, Spc. Christian Rojas as a dependable professional with a wicked sense of humor and Spc. Eric Salinas as a single dad known for his compassion.

Pfc. First Class Charles Heinlein Jr. Was posthumously promoted to Spc. Heinlein.