Four Northern San Joaquin Valley veterans testified before a field hearing of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health of the bureaucratic nightmare those returning from the Global War on Terror faced when seeking help.

The Congressional hearing was held at the Modesto American Legion Hall — home division of acting subcommittee chair Jeff Denham. The focus of the hearing was the Veterans Health Administration and the role of Vet centers.

“Last October, I once again returned to the combat theater, this time as a member of the Congressional delegation to Afghanistan,” said Denham in his opening remarks. Denham is a veteran of Desert Storm and served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves for 16 years.