Who is William Travis/Roger Kristen from The Illustrated Man and what is their importance?

In the story, The Fox in the Forest, Travis is a scientist employed to create the most powerful bomb ever made. Unfortunately, he hate his job, loathes war, and wishes to escape the technology set to destroy his world. Thus, Travis changes his name, takes his wife, and time-travels into the past, where he hopes to disappear from the radar. This, however, is not possible, and he and his wife are soon discovered. Travis' mistake cost him his life. Travis appears in The Fox and the Forest.