Bare-Faced Messiah (PDF) - Apologetics Index

When he finally caught up with the Henderson in San Diego, 'faint from lack of sleep and food', he
was told that Washington would need to approve his request for a passage to Guam. Nothing if not
bold, Ron called on the Aide to the Commandant, who turned out to be extraordinarily obliging and
agreed to telegraph Washington immediately. Satisfied there was nothing more he could do for the
moment, Ron rented a cheap room near the naval headquarters and slept for eighteen hours.
When he woke, he learned that a signal had been received from Washington saying that his
father's permission would be needed before he could join the ship.
'With fear and trembling, I had a radio sent out to Guam . . . I walked the streets of San Diego all that
day with Old Man Worry gnawing at my brow. Would Dad reply "No!" or would he say "Yes"? You
see, I had reason to be worried. This would be the first intimation he would have of my portending
return . . .'
Out in Guam, Lieutenant Hubbard no doubt wondered what the hell was going on when he
received a message from Washington informing him that his son was in San Diego requesting
passage on a ship to Guam. It was to his credit that he immediately cabled his permission, which
arrived in San Diego, according to Ron, only an hour before the Henderson was due to sail.
This does not quite accord with the deck log of the Henderson, which records that 'L.R. Hubbard,
son of Lieutenant H. R. Hubbard USN, reported on board for transportation to Guam' at 1620 hours
on Saturday 30 June. The ship did not sail until 1330 the following day. Neither do the dates match
Lieutenant Hubbard's navy record, which indicates that Ron wrote to the Navy Department asking
about transports to Guam as early as 10 May; he submitted a formal application for a passage in
the Henderson on 28 May.[9]
However, Ron never considered that strict regard for the truth should be allowed to spoil a good
story and so he described how he was standing with his suitcase in his hand at the bottom of the
gangway to the ship when the cable came through. He had lost his trunk, somewhere between San
Francisco and San Diego, but he was unconcerned. 'The Henderson sailed with me aboard,' he
noted triumphantly. 'My possessions were: two handkerchiefs, two suits underwear, one pair
shoes, one worn suit, one thin topcoat, one tooth brush, two pair socks and two pennies. No
wardrobe, no money . . .'
He ended this part of his journal with a jaunty little postscript addressed to the reader: 'I will tell you
the secret of this strange life I had. Sssh! I was born on Friday the thirteenth.'
It was, unfortunately, not quite true. 13 March 1911 was a Monday.
1. Facts About L. Ron Hubbard - Things You Should Know, Flag Divisional Directive, 8 Mar 1974
2. What Is Scientology?, 1973, p. xlii
3. ibid., p. xliv
4. Scientology: A New Slant on Life, L. Ron Hubbard, 1965
5. Facts About L. Ron Hubbard - Things You Should Know, Flag Divisional Directive, 8 Mar 1974
6. Letter to author from Montana Historical Society, 24 Mar 1986
7. Interview with Gorham Roberts, Helena, Montana, April 1986
8. Interview with Mrs. Margaret Roberts, Helena, Montana, April 1986
9. H.R. Hubbard navy record