Jes Wilhem Schlaikjer (1897-1982) was born on the sea en route to the United States. His family lived in Kentucky until 1907 when they moved to Winner, South Dakota. His first work as an artist was working as a cartoonist for the Carter, South Dakota newspaper.

During World War I, he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps and served in France as Chief Receiving Operator at the Lafayette Radio Station in Paris. After the war, he attended the École des Beaux-Arts in France and the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. He settled in New York and became an artist, portraitist, illustrator, and art teacher. His illustration work appeared in magazines such as Woman’s Home Companion and Collier’s.

In 1942, he began working for the U.S. War Department, creating inspirational and patriotic posters for the war effort. After the war, he continued working as an artist. His work included numerous portraits, some of which are on exhibit in the War College. He died in Washington, DC.