Defense Leaders Pay Tribute to POWs, MIAs Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Patricia Scharf, widow of Col. Charles Scharf, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, leave the Pentagon to attend a POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon Parade Field, Sept. 21, 2007. The colonel, an F-4C Phantom II pilot, was shot down over Vietnam, Oct. 1, 1965. Fragments of Scharf's remains were identified last year using DNA from love letters he had sent to his wife.   Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby Back To HomePage More Photo Essays Next About DefenseLink DoD Inspector General Freedom of Information Privacy & Security External Link Disclaimer Web Policy Contact Us USA.gov