"… Californians,
especially notoriously good fighters, were standing up to the
rack like men, dealing out to us the best they had. They rallied
at every call on them and went down with banners flying."
-John W. Munson, Commenting on the California Cavalry Battalion
from Reminiscences of a Mosby Guerrilla.
Spanish
Soldado de Cuera - circa 1790 (US Army Art Collection)
Welcome to
California Military History Online!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our web site. We hope
you find it educational and enlightening.
It should be noted that
this site does not glorify war. Rather, its intent is to remind
this and future generations of the sacrifices made by previous
generations to keep our state and nation free.
Californians have a long
and proud tradition of service that stretches back over two centuries
when Alta California was a Spanish colony and later a Mexican
province. Since joining the Union, California has provided more
of its citizens to our common defense than any other state. From
the lonely 18th century colonial presidios of the El Real Ejército
de California (Royal Spanish Army of California) to the mountains
of Afghanistan, Californians have always been there and continue
the tradition of selfless service.
Californians who have
served our nation reads like a who's who of American Military
History. Generals William T. Sherman, Henry Halleck and Joseph
Hooker all served in the California State Militia before the Civil
War. Many of the leaders on both sides of that war served in California.
The California Volunteers were among the first to enter Manila
during the Spanish-American War. Nelson Holderman, considered
by many to be the most decorated American soldier of the First
World War, served in the California National Guard before and
after the war. Generals George Patton and James Doolittle were
native Californians and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General
of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold considered California
their home state.
Again, thanks for "surfing
in" and we hope you visit us soon.
The California State
Military Museum - Sacramento is currently undergoing reorganization
and relocation to a new location. The Camp Roberts Historical
Museum is serving as the interim state museum during this process.
The Military Museum Enterprise is also placing exhibit at culutural
institutions and veterans facilities across the state. You can
follow the progress of the museum enterprise at the new California State Military Museums' Facebook page.
Gift Cards and Certificates
are accepted from such businesses as:
Hobby Lobby, Fast Frame
and Michaels Arts and Crafts.
Home Depot, Lowe's
and Ace Hardware.
Office Depot, Office
Max and Staples.
Costco, Walmart and
Amazon.com.
Prepaid debit cards.
Checks: Please make
checks payable to the "California Military Department Support
Fund" with "Museum" in the memo area
Checks and Gift Cards/Certificates
should be identified for museum use and be sent to:
California Military Department
ATTN: SSG Carl E. Trujillo (Box 42)
9800 Goethe Rd
Sacramento, CA 95826.
Artifact
Donations:
Currently we are only
accepting artifact donations on an exception basis only. Please
email description and photos to curator@militarymuseum.org
CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES!
Please click HERE
for information concerning the transfer of weapons and tactical
vehicles to the California Military Department Museum Enterprise.
Tax Deduction
Information
For your tax- planning
purposes here are the Federal and California tax citations:
On January 1, 2013,
the State of California amended California Military & Veterans
Code Section 412.5 to allow the California Military Department
to conduct its own fundraising! This law is similar in concept
to the federal Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) laws but
is far more powerful and provides greater capabilities. The California
Military Department Support Fund created the statute, which authorizes
the Adjutant General to establish specified support programs
for the benefit of California Service Members and their families,
and to support military-sponsored youth programs throughout the
state. To accomplish this goal, the state authorizes the Military
Department to solicit and accept funds, donations, equipment,
and services from private individuals, organizations and companies.
On May 1, 2015, the Adjutant General approved California Military
Department Regulation 215-1, which operationalizes this law.
It provides the framework to allow the Military Department to
move forward on fundraising and procedures to ensure internal
controls and other processes are transparent and accountable.
The Soldiers and Airmen of the California National Guard have
tremendous needs that are separate and distinct from the regular
active component military.
These tax-deductible donations could be used for quality-of-life
programs that directly support readiness by providing a variety
of community, unit, and family support programs, as well as activities
and services for our Soldiers, Airmen, and cadets. Included would
be military history and museum, social, fitness, recreational,
educational, and other programs that enhance community life,
foster unit readiness, promote mental and physical fitness, and
provide a working environment that attracts and retains quality
soldiers and airmen.
Tax Deduction
Information
For your tax- planning
purposes here are the Federal and California tax citations:
Federal: Internal Revenue Code Section 170(c)(1) Federal Tax
Identification No. 94-6001336
State: California Military and Veterans Code and Section 412.5,California
Revenue and Taxation Code Section 17201(a).
