2025 Annual 91st IDL Luncheon
Thank you for everyone who attended a very successful 2025 Annual 91st IDL Luncheon. Great to see everyone in person and speak to the changing of the guard on the 91st IDL Board. More info coming and photos…
Governor Signs Military Retirement Pay Tax Exemption
At the end of June 2025, the Governor of California signed the Military Retirement and Survivor SBP Pay tax exemption.
AB 53 was about halfway through the process, having passed the full Assembly and starting Senate committee hearings. However, the Governor had created a trailer bill to accompany the budget, and that bill was apparently used to enshrine tax exemption into law.
Tax exemption starts this year, from January 1st. If qualified, you will be able to deduct up to the first $20,000 of your military retirement/SBP pay when filing taxes next spring.
However, there is a qualification: The exemption is only available for those filing returns with an AGI below $125,000 filing single or $250,000 filing jointly. The bill also expires in 2030.
While we would have liked full exemption with no qualifying income limits, we are thankful to join the other 49 states and offer some retirement pay exemption for those who need it most. MOAA was one of the four prime sponsors of the bill, however, success was only achieved with a large, coordinated effort of many veterans’ groups.
I also want to acknowledge our California State Treasurer, Fiona Ma, becoming an official supporter of the tax exemption bill and sending staff to testify in support at committee hearings. That was a vital help during a time of budget stress. Ms. Ma intends to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2026.
Since this is only a 5-year bill we will be back as early as next year with new legislation to improve tax exemption. We need to raise or eliminate the qualifying income cap, raise the exempted amount, and extend the term of the bill.
We also continue to work with other pending legislation this year to include:
- SB 694 (Sen Archuleta) to address Veterans Claims Sharks,
- SB 56 (Sen Seyarto) to make property tax fully exempt for 100% disabled veterans, and
- SB 296 (Sen Archuleta) to allow claiming both veterans ($4,000) and homestead ($7,000) property tax exemptions
[This article is from the Solano MOAA (Military Officers Association of America)]
Memorial Day 2025 – Italy
It was a beautiful spring day in Florence, Italy on Memorial Day 2025. The 91st infantry Division League wreath was prominently displayed in front of the wall memorializing all of the fallen buried at the cemetery.
Memorial Day 2025 – Belgium
It was a cool spring day in Belgium on Memorial Day 2025. The 91st infantry Division League wreath was prominently displayed in front of the cemetery’s main memorial structure. The League has been remembering our fallen WW I Wild West Warriors for over 50 years at this and other sites in Belgium. We should all be proud of what we do in Belgium on both Memorial and Veterans Days every year. Click Here for Video 1 and Click Here for Video 2 to view these short videos that were provided to us (either login or click the X on the Instagram page to view).
Division League is Accepting Donations Again!
The League is again accepting donations. Your contributions will go to supporting the $5000 annual League scholarship, memorial floral wreaths at 91st Division WW I and WW II battle sites, support of the annual reunion activity and many other worthy causes. Contributions can only be made by check made out to Colonel Lou Lallo and mailing it to: 91st Infantry Division League; Attn.: COL Lallo, 953 E. Windsor Circle, Fresno, CA 93720. You will receive an acknowledgement email and a receipt for tax purposes.
Florence American Cemetery Memorial Day Invite
PDF can be downloaded here: FLAC e-Invitation Memorial Day 2025
Former 91st Division Members Enjoy Lunch Together
This gathering was held on January 31, 2025 in Dublin, CA
Mission and Vision
Mission: Preserve the history and legacy of the 91st Infantry Division and successor organizations for our membership which includes WW II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and the Wars Against Terrorism veterans and other retirees, current 91st Division soldiers and our families and friends.
Vision: To be recognized as a premier Army alumni association and the foremost supporter of the 91st “Wild West Division” and the Powder River spirit.
91st Infantry Division League Chaplain Support
The League is announcing Chaplain support for all members. LTC (USA, Ret.) Jill Sizemore has graciously consented to be the League’s Chaplain. She can be contacted by email at: revjill.sizemore@gmail.com. She will directly communicate with whomever reaches out to her. She can help in cases of family emergencies or deaths of League alumni and family. Jill is ready and willing to assist. Please use her.
Note: The Minutes of the 2023 91st IDL Annual Meeting Minutes are posted in the ‘League Info’ tab.
ABOUT US
The 91st Infantry (Wild West) Division was organized on 5 August 1917 by the War Department and stationed at Camp Lewis now Fort Lewis, Washington. The Division has three campaign streamers from World War I (Lorraine, Meuse-Argonne and Ypres-Lys) and three from the rugged Italian Campaign in World War II (North Apennines, Po Valley and Rome-Arno). The Division also has five Medal of Honor Recipients from World War I and two from World War II. The 91st Division has been home to literally thousands of Great Americans in the last Century including Earl Warren, Governor of California and Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, a WW II veteran. The 91st has had individual members deployed to combat in every conflict since World War II including Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Somalia, Haiti, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). We honor the sacrifices and accomplishments of the 91st Division veterans who have fought for freedom and peace since its creation in 1917. To learn more about the history of the 91st Division, click here to go to our history webpage or click here to download a PDF file about the Division’s first 100 years.
The 91st Infantry Division League, which was created in 1946 by 91st Infantry Division WW II veterans, is incorporated in California as a corporation organized exclusively for charitable, religious and educational purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Taxpayer ID is: 94-6079318. The League is also registered with the California State Attorney General’s Office as a charitable organization which can solicit and receive donations and contributions. Click here to download a PDF file of the League’s Annual Meeting Minutes. For those wishing to join the 91st Division League, you can download the Division’s League Membership form here.
91st Infantry Division League 2025 Donors
Kenneth Bergstrom
SGT Jan Cayot
SGT (R) Geoffrey Millar
SSG (R) Leo McArdle
SFC (R) Zelma Yancy-Johnson
MSG (R) Dennis Claudio
SGM (R) William Blockie
CSM (R) Harlan Dirks
CSM (R) Art Moore
CSM (R) Nick Piacentini
CSM (R) Dan Snow
CW4 (R) Bob Gross
1LT (R) Sandra Camacho
LTC (R) Jesiros Bautista
LTC (R) Joseph Butchart
LTC (R) Dee Garder
LTC (R) Marshall Gordon
MAJ (R) Richard Austring
COL (R) Gregg Bergstrom
COL (R) Charles Busick
COL (R) Rom Nemeth
COL (R) James Wiskenbaker
COL (R) Jim Keltner
COL (R) Lou Lallo
COL (R) Nick Moore
COL (R) Ed Sullivan
COL (R) Jim Wells
BG (R) Belle Jones
MG (R) Dan Balough
MG (R) Rob Ostenberg
SSG (R) Cathy Pauley
COL (R) Lou Lallo
LTC (R) Michelle Sutak
LTC (R) Bob Schmidt
COL (R) Bruce Zelis
SGM (R) Paul Bachelor
Mr. & Mrs. Rufini
Veterans Day 2024
American Cemetery in Florence, Italy
Under bright blue skies and 70 degree temperatures, BG Daniel L. Cederman, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, hosted the Veterans Day 2024 Ceremony at the Florence, Italy, American Military Cemetery. The 91st Division League was again listed as one of the sponsors and listed on the program. Our wreath is shown in the photo. To see photos of the American Cemetery in Florence, click here.
Flanders Field, Belgium American Cemetery
It was a cloudy 53 degree Fall day at the Flanders American Military Cemetery on Veterans Day. The 91st Infantry Division League wreath occupied a place of honor at the ceremony. Our wreath was presented by the Mayor of the local town, Warengem. The event was jointly presided over by Canadian Military (in remembrance of the Battle of Passchendaele) and Belgian government officials.
Ever wonder how to show your retired grade and component?
AR 25-50, Preparing and Managing Correspondence, page 56.
6–6. Retired military personnel. Retired military should follow the same rules as active personnel, except that no organization or branch of the Army will be shown. Show retired status after the grade as follows: a. All Army personnel, Regular Army or Reserve Component, retired for service, age, or physical disability and all personnel on the Army of the United States Retired List, including regular Army personnel and nonregular Army personnel on the Temporary Disability Retired List will use “USA Retired” (for example, A. B. Smith, COL (USA Retired).
91st Infantry Division League Brick and 91st Division Tribute Plaque at National Army Museum
91st Infantry Division League Chairman, Dan Balough attended the AUSA Convention from 9-12 October 2022. During the convention he made a trip to the National Army Museum at Fort Belvoir. Shown in the photos below are the 91st Infantry Division League Brick now installed on the South Walk, which is still under construction and the 91st Division Unit Tribute Plaque. Our plaque is about midway down the line of the 130 currently installed plaques and is both visually captivating and gripping. Anyone in the DC area should definitely make the pilgrimage to the National Museum of the US Army. It is only about 15 miles from downtown DC. The trip is well worth your time and is a must for any Army Veteran or family member. The staff are incredibly helpful, knowledgeable and well, just plain nice.
Join Email List
We have an email list open to members and non-members. If you would like to join our email list, please write divisionleague@yahoo.com to provide us with your email. All emails that do not include your last rank, first name, and last name, or your connection to the division will be deleted.
DONATIONS
You can mail your contributions to: 91st Infantry Division League; Attn.: COL Lallo, 953 E. Windsor Circle, Fresno, CA 93720. You will receive an acknowledgement email and a receipt for tax purposes. You can also use this opportunity to join our email list.