A Fort Carson chaplain spoke slowly, stressing that Spc. Kyle R. Rookey would be defined for the people he loved. He’d be defined for the people he touched.

“Victoria, Kyle’s final act doesn’t define him,” said the chaplain, Capt. Joseph Moffitt.

Inside a half-full chapel, Fort Carson troops remembered the 23-year-old soldier during a memorial service at the Fort Carson Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. He died Sept. 2 in Jalalabad, Afghanistan — nearly six months into his first deployment.

His death “shocked” the soldiers in his unit, the 4th Special Troops Battalion of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, as well as soldiers back home, Lt. Col. Nicholas Palarino told the mourners.

The circumstances surrounding Rookey’s death have not been released. A Defense Department statement said Rookey died in an “non-combat related incident.”

In a chapel where sermons about the of sacrifices and undying love of fallen soldiers often bring family and friends to tears, the chaplain spoke about “darkness.”

“If you have never found yourself if the darkness, you will,” Moffitt said.

Rookey found himself in that “darkness,” the chaplain added.

A native of Oswego, N.Y., Rookey enlisted in the Army on March 3, 2010 and went on to fly the Shadow — a drone used to direct artillery fire as well as spot insurgents and the bombs they have planted.

“Kyle kept watch over our soldiers,” said Capt. Stephen Vinski, during the service. “Kyle was a battle buddy to each and every soldier.”

Soldiers remembered his penchant for being a “goofball,” one who spoke repeatedly about his daughter, Flora, who was born last fall to Rookey and his wife, Victoria. Few minutes went by when he didn’t mention the baby girl.

“When he described Flora, it was like he was describing himself — always smiling and laughing,” said Spc. Justine Yanez, a eulogist.

Rookey, who once ran track and played the trumpet, owned a gentle smile and ever-warming presence, the chaplain said. But again inside the silent chapel, Moffitt spoke of “darkness.”

“Don’t handle the darkness alone,” said Moffitt, to onlookers in the pews. “If you don’t cry out, we won’t know that you are there and we can’t reach out to help you.

“I promise you. Darkness does not have the last word. It does not last forever.”

A few moments later, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace,” the verses followed by seven guns fired three times outside the chapel’s walls.

The shots’ echo ended with a bugler blowing taps.

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The 2-12 IN Honor Guard prepares to fire a 21 gun salute in remembrance of Specialist Kyle Robert Rookey who was honored at a memorial ceremony at the Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel at Fort Carson Monday, September 17, 2012. Rookey died while serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/The Gazette