About the artist: Kristopher J. Battles (SSgt, USMCR) (1968 – present)
Kristopher Battles enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1986. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Truman State University and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Hartford. In 2006, he was recalled to active duty as a combat artist for the National Museum of the Marine Corps where he would serve until the end of his service in 2014. As an artist, Battles deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. He is the Artist-in-Residence at the Museum and manages the Marine Corps Combat Art Program.