Adrian Corrales

Corrales' husband, Adrian, successfully fulfilled his commitment to the Hawaiian National Guard and safely returned home last week.

"It's nice he is home," she said.

Adrian Corrales' return home couldn't have come at a better time.

Regular season softball practice for the couple's three daughters - Aurianna, 12, Autumn, 9, and Arizona, 7 - started Wednesday.

"It's going to be good for us," Adrian Corrales said.
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Adrian Corrales initially deployed with the California National Guard 18 months ago, but then volunteered to join the Hawaiian National Guard when it began looking for additional soldiers.

"I didn't know any of the people I deployed with," he said.Most of the soldiers were from the Central Coast.

After completing training in Texas and Louisiana, Adrian Corrales was deployed to Kuwait and then to Iraq to provide security for the ASL Anaconda military base.

Adrian Corrales said he spent 13 months at the base, where he saw action that earned him two commendations.He said he is also waiting for the Bronze Star, given to military personnel for performance above and beyond the call of duty.
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Adrian Corrales, the proud father, said he showed the videos to his fellow soldiers so often, some soldiers already knew the outcome.

The last part of his commitment included training the military personnel who were going to take over security at the base.

"You want to make sure they're knowledgeable," he said.

Adrian Corrales said the new personnel spent two weeks learning about keeping the base safe.When providing safety for a military base, there never seems to be enough time, he said.

"But you have to leave them," he said.

If he would have been needed longer, Adrian Corrales said he would have remained there.

"We're all committed," he said.

Adrian Corrales arrived home and wasted no time catching up with family.He took his daughters to the park to play softball.Watching those videos while deployed has energized him for the upcoming season.

"That's our connection," he said.

Wednesday was also Adrian Corrales' first day back at work as a press operator at Moore Wallace printing in Visalia.

But Adrian Corrales' military days may not be over just yet.He said he re-enlisted for six more years.

He'll have three years where he won't be deployed.

But afterwards, if the call comes, Adrian Corrales said he'll go.

"If they need me, they'll know where to come and get me," he said.

The reporter can be reached at lhernand@visalia.gannett.com.
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Corrales and his wife, Adrienne, sit with their daughters, pictured from left, Autumn, 9, Aurianna, 12, and Arizona, 7, at the Prosperity Sports Park on Wednesday.