Reporting for Active Duty

I finally got access to a computer workstation, and so I can post!

I reported for duty at Marine Corps Combat Development Command Quantico, Virginia, September 6, 2006, and spent the first few days checking in with various offices and units, before coming to rest at the History Division September 11.

Most of my time has been taken up with setting up work space at the History Division, going to and setting up appointments with medical, dental, legal, supply, etc., and getting refresher training, all in preparation for my upcoming deployment. It's been a busy couple of weeks, needless to say.

I have been able to continue working on an oil painting of one of the wounded warriors I sketched up at Bethesda Navy Medical Center with WO1 Mike Fay in August.

Next week I'll be going out to fire various weapons with the H&S BN, as part of Marine Battle Skills Training. This is very good, as I need to familiarize myself with a variety of weapons before deploying (The Combat side of the Combat Artist's repertoire...).

I also hope to get a chance to go out in the field to observe and sketch the officers at TBS (The Basic School here at Quantico-- intensive basic training for new officers). That will be another opportunity to get used to doing the job in the field.

Family is what's it's all about

Hello, all who read these posts--

I have yet to post some family photos--
So, here they are!

Here's a photo of me, my lovely wife, Kelly, and our children: Hannah, Jack and the li'l newcomer, Kate:















Here's Hannah, recently. She's almost 4, going on Teenager in mentality.
Cutie, though, huh?
















These photos are of my son, Jackson. It's his first barbershop haircut; Jack and I had our hair cut together, and he was a little trooper. He never so much as frowned the whole time.





























Here's Kate! (Katherine Lorraine). Newborn, she arrived July 30th, 7 lbs, 0 oz, 19 inches long. Cute as a button, if I do say so myself.
































Family is why we fight Terrorists, and family is also why it's such a challenge to leave and be gone for weeks or months at a time.

I will only deploy for short terms, whereas we have some young marines who have had two or three longer stints in Iraq and Afghanistan, with more on the horizon. It has to be incredibly difficult.

After...

Last month, I promised a photo of me as a Marine Artist (the "After" Photo)--



Here I am, sketching today at Bethesda.

Young Wounded Warriors

Warrant Officer Mike Fay and I went today to Bethesda Naval Medical Center as part of our duties as combat artists, to sketch and draw the young marines recovering from wounds suffered in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Talking to these marines was a joy and an honor (needless to say), as they truly represent the good in American youth. All had stories of combat, and of friends wounded and killed in the war. You could see the effect of the war on their faces, many times literally, as they bore scars from IEDs, mortars, and sniper fire.

Here are some of the sketches I did, and though some of them do not do justice to the subject, I thought it would be good to show them, so that people could see the faces of the young marines who have fought and been wounded, defending us in the War on Terror:

Sergeant Ryan King, wounded by IED. He has had some excellent facial surgery (I couldn't tell that his face and especially his nose, had seen some extensive damage).

Corporal Estaban Diaz, wounded in the head by an IED, with shrapnel through his left cornea. Incidently, he was born in Mexico, raised in the States a pastor's son, and is still waiting to be sworn in as a US citizen. (Can anyone say, "FASTTRACK this guy?!")


Sgt Todd Herman. The leader of the pack, with natural command presence, yet he's a heck of a nice guy. He's still having surgery on his face after having been wounded in 2004. This portrait isn't a perfect likeness, yet I put it up here because he was such a pleasure to work with and to draw.

I have several more images, which I will post tomorrow. I also hope to have some drawings from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where Gunner Fay and I will be going tomorrow...

An old drawing of mine...

Here's a drawing I did years ago of my brother, Andrew, who was an Amtracker out of Courthouse Bay, from 1984-88.

It was drawn from a photo he sent me, when he was on a WestPac float in 1985. ( I believe it was taken near Mt. Fuji, but I could be wrong).

It is pencil on paper, and isn't too bad, given the fact that it's photographic, and therefore a little stiff.

I felt it was a success, and when my brother sent it to me today, I thought it'd go well on this site.

Gadzooks--I've Been Drafted!!

Mail Call! My "marine-ness" is becoming more a reality every day. One of my combat artist associates sent me these uniform items in the mail, to welcome me aboard and help me get ready to report for duty.







It is like riding a bicycle, as they say, to put on the uniform again. It feels natural; almost like I never got out years ago. The uniforms and equipment have changed a bit since I last served, but the Marine Corps itself remains the same. That is a great thing.

The few changes I see are quite positive. It seems to me the Marine Corps is faster, stronger, and smarter than it was ten years ago. I'm sure it's got to do with the increase in technology, and the vast amount of warfighting experience accumulated since the beginning of the Global War on Terror.

It's good to be a part of it.

"Mwen Se Yon Atis! (Je Suis Artiste)"

Before...

A little background on my art career.

This photo was taken of me in the Spring of 2001, as I was beginning a painting of "Bidonville" in my studio in Fermathe, Haiti.

I spent just over two years as an artist and missionary in Haiti, working for the Baptist Haiti Mission. I taught local artisans and children, and helped supervise the Mountain Maid Craft Outlet at the mission.

It was a wonderful and challenging experience, and I pray it will have prepared me at least a little for the foreign environments I'll find myself in soon. (In Haiti, I saw a lot of poverty, some death, and a little unrest, but I was never shot at--though my wife had armed men point machine guns at her in Port-au-Prince one time...)

I can only hope that a little bit of Chesty Puller rubs off on me, considering he spent several years in Haiti, and tasted his first combat fighting Caco rebels there.

I can only pray also that a little John Singer Sargent rubs of me as well, so I'll be able to do some good watercolor sketches!

I just received orders for training, and I'll post another photo of me when I report, one with me as Marine Artist.

An Introduction

Greetings,

My name is Kristopher Battles. I am a landscape and portrait painter of the Classical Realist school, inspired by the masters of art history as I paint the world around me. (I also consider myself a Romantic Realist, if there can be such a thing).

As of 28 June, 2006 I am Sgt. Kristopher Battles, of the United States Marine Corps Reserve -- soon to be a proud member of the USMC Historical Division serving as a combat artist overseas. This blog will showcase my experiences in the War on Terror as I deploy as a Marine Combat Artist. I will endeavor to show a realistic view of the war through the eyes of one on the ground, while also being truthful to the long, rich history of combat art and the art of picture-making itself.

Semper Fidelis.