When the Provisional Coast Artillery was formed in April 1942, comprised of all elements of the the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery regiments with the 200th's Colonel Sage designated as Brigade Commander, LtCOL Luikart, then serving as Colonel Peck's Executive Officer of the 515th, assumed command of the 200th Coast Artillery. LtCol John C. Luikart would survive the sinking of the “Hell Ship” Oryoku Maru, but was lost in the bombing of the Enoura Maru on January 9, 1945.

Photo by B. Charley Gallegos