SR135 - Relative to 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard.

Enrolled August 14, 2026 Passed IN Senate August 13, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 135 Introduced by Senator Archuleta (Coauthors: Senators Allen, Arreguín, Ashby, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, and Wiener) August 06, 2026 Relative to 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SR 135, Archuleta. Digest Key Bill Text WHEREAS, The headquarters of the 40th Infantry Division was constituted in the National Guard on July 18, 1917, and organized on August 25, 1917, at Camp Kearny, California, with troops from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah; and WHEREAS, The division is officially designated the “Sunshine Division” and is also widely known as the “Sunburst Division” because of its distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia depicting a yellow sun in splendor on a blue field; and WHEREAS, During World War I, the division deployed to France and served as a depot division, training and providing more than 27,000 replacement soldiers to American combat divisions serving on the Western Front; and WHEREAS, During World War II, the division served with distinction in the Pacific Theater, deploying to Guadalcanal and New Britain before conducting combat operations on Luzon, Panay, and Negros, and earned campaign participation credit for the Bismarck Archipelago, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines; and WHEREAS, Following the outbreak of the Korean War, the 40th Infantry Division was ordered into active federal service on September 1, 1950, and subsequently deployed to Japan and the Republic of Korea; and WHEREAS, The division participated in four Korean War campaigns and engaged in combat in the Punch bowl and Heartbreak Ridge-Sandbag Castle areas, during which 376 of its soldiers were killed in action and 1,457 were wounded in action; and WHEREAS, Sergeant David B. Bleak, Corporal Clifton T. Speicher, and Sergeant Gilbert G. Collier, each of whom served with the division’s 223rd Infantry Regiment, were awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of extraordinary heroism during the Korean War, and the division was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation; and WHEREAS, Throughout its history, the division and its subordinate units have repeatedly responded to earthquakes, floods, wildfires, civil emergencies, and other disasters in California, providing security, logistical support, and assistance to communities in need; and WHEREAS, Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, soldiers and elements of the 40th Infantry Division have served in support of military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations throughout the world; and WHEREAS, In June 2019, Major General Laura L. Yeager assumed command of the 40th Infantry Division and became the first woman in the history of the United States Army to command an infantry division; and WHEREAS, In 2023, a headquarters element of more than 500 soldiers of the 40th Infantry Division mobilized to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve, constituting the division’s largest headquarters deployment since the Korean War; and WHEREAS, Today, the 40th Infantry Division remains an integral component of the California Army National Guard and the United States Army, prepared to support military operations, strengthen relationships with allied and partner nations, and respond to emergencies throughout California; and WHEREAS, For more than a century, generations of soldiers have worn the division’s distinctive sun insignia with honor and upheld its traditions of courage, readiness, professionalism, and service; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate recognizes and honors the enduring legacy of the 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard and its distinguished service to the State of California and the United States; and be it further Resolved, That the Senate expresses its profound gratitude to the current and former members of the 40th Infantry Division, remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and recognizes the service and sacrifices of their families; and be it further Resolved, That the Senate commends the soldiers and leaders of the 40th Infantry Division for carrying forward the division’s proud traditions of courage, readiness, professionalism, and service for future generations; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Adjutant General of California, the Commander of the 40th Infantry Division, and the author for appropriate distribution.