2026 Reunion Video Presentations

This update video was produced for the 2023 VHPA Reunion in San Antonio to provide the attendees with something of a ‘progress report’ while showing areas and activities where help is needed. Special attention was given to a then relatively new The Volunteer Headquarters. Previous updates were delivered in person at VHPA Reunions, but since Covid those stopped. For several reasons, this video was only shown once at the 2023 and 2024 Reunions and only a handful of VHPA members ever saw it. It is still very significant and relevant in 2026! Please contact Mike Law at 830-730-0950 if you have questions and comments about the VNCA or this video. There is more on the VNCA and how to add a collection of your mementos to the Archive on the VHPA's Legacy page.

Cost of Valor, a novel by Matt Jackson aka Col Gary Bridges, is the story of Lam Son 719 with a focus on the 48th Assault Helicopter Company. The presentation discussed how AI-enabled filmmaking technologies were used to produce two "sizzle reels" that would recreate the Operation Lam Son 719 experience from the firsthand account depicted in Col Bridges' book. The project was created and supported by Conner McIntyre, a Technology Director at Amazon, and included a team of faculty at Belmont University's Jack C. Massey College of Business along with Col Bridges. The two reels below were produced by the project as a proof of concept for future feature-length productions of Col Bridges' book.

Click the thumbnail to the right to view the presentation slides from the premier of the Cost of Valor AI-generated film project.

More on the Cost of Valor AI-generated film project and the premier can be found on Belmont University's website.

The reel below was produced as a cinematic trailer, immersing viewers in the action and emotional stakes of the battle.

The second of the two reels (below) was produced as a documentary, combining historical context and personal testimony from Bridges' novel.

No film project is complete without a blooper reel. The reel below includes some results where AI "missed the mark" and the project team taking some creative license to have a little fun with the AI-powered technologies.

By way of background information, as of 1 January 1969 the assets of the long-range patrol companies in Vietnam were re-flagged as ranger companies of the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) (“Merrill's Marauders”). Prior to that date, each Army Division and separate Infantry Brigade plus the two Field Force (Corps level) commands in Vietnam had their own long-range patrol company or platoon. As of 1 Jan 1969, C/75th Inf served with I FFV (Field Force Vietnam); D/75th Inf with II FFV, E/75th Inf with the 9th Inf Div, F/75th Inf with the 25th Inf Div, G/75th Inf with the 23rd Inf Div (Americal), H/75th Inf with the 1st Cavalry Division, etc.

In late 2025, the leadership of the Company G, 75th Inf (Americal) Association asked the VHPA EC if they could come to The Galt House and co-locate their Reunion with the VHPA's 43rd Reunion. The Rangers only asked that they could say THANKS to all the helicopter crews and units who supported them during their tenure in Vietnam. Permission was granted. More than 30 ‘G’ Company Rangers and their guests attended the Closing Banquet. These Rangers presented a Tribute to the VHPA for all the Vietnam War helicopter support ~ VHPA President Jim Crigler received this Tribute for and on behalf of the VHPA.

This short video was all the Rangers wanted to SHOW to us and SAY to us.