Bare-Faced Messiah (PDF) - Apologetics Index

Among the scientific accomplishments claimed was the collection of a great many specimens of
flora and fauna for the University of Michigan, some of them 'very rare', the provision of underwater
film to the Hydrographic Office, and 'much research work in the field of natural life while at the
various islands'. The New York Times, it was reported, had bought some of the photographs taken
on the expedition.
Life on board the Doris Hamlin was presented in the rosiest of lights and there was even a hint of
romantic adventures ashore: 'By way of amusement on board the ship, the boys entertained
themselves with chess, bridge, volley-ball tournaments, etcetera, and on land, when they weren't
out catching sharks or harpooning or visiting some colourful spot, they were capably entertained by
the dark-eye señoritas at the various ports.'
All in all, the report concluded that the expedition was nothing short of a 'glorious adventure'.
Curiously, no trace may be found of the many contributions to science which Ron claimed on behalf
of the Caribbean Motion Picture Expedition. The Hydrographic Office has no record of receiving the
expedition's underwater films,[12] the University of Michigan can find none of the specimens brought
back by the 'gentleman rovers'[13] and the archives at The New York Times hold no photographs
from the expedition, no evidence that it was ever intended to buy such photographs, nor indeed any
indication that the newspaper was even aware of the expedition's existence.[14]
Mystery similarly surrounds the West Indies Minerals Survey, that 'pioneer exploration in the great
tradition' during which Ron is said to have completed the first mineralogical survey of Puerto Rico.
This would certainly have been an impressive achievement for a twenty-one-year-old civil
engineering student, but the US Geological Survey knows nothing about it[15], neither does the
Puerto Rican Department of Natural Resources[16] nor Doctor Howard Meyerhoff, visiting professor
in geology at the University of Puerto Rico, 1931-2.[17]
When Ron returned home from the Caribbean, he discovered that his grades for his second year at
George Washington University were disastrous: a B for English, but D in calculus and electrical
and magnetic physics, and an F for molecular and atomic physics. He was perhaps not surprised
and as his expectation of graduating was fast receding he could see no point in wasting a third
year studying a subject in which he had no interest. When he adjudged the moment to be
appropriate, he announced to his parents that he had had enough of civil engineering and did not
intend to return to university.
May and Harry Hubbard were mortified. As they saw it, their son was squandering a fine opportunity
to enter a respectable profession and enjoy a successful career; it seemed such a waste. But Ron
adamantly refused to listen to their entreaties that he should face up to his responsibilities, return
to university, study hard and graduate.
Lieutenant Hubbard, accepting at last that Ron could not be persuaded to change his mind, cast
about for something worthwhile to keep his son occupied until he was ready to think again about a
proper career; he was determined not to allow Ron to fritter away his time scribbling more stories.
At the Naval Hospital where he was still working as Disbursing Officer, he heard that the Red
Cross was looking for volunteers to work in Puerto Rico. On 13 October, he wrote to the Navy
Department requesting a passage to San Juan for his son, supporting his request with a note: 'The
purpose of sending my son to Puerto Rico is to place his services at the disposal of the American
Red Cross in their relief work on that island.' Two days later, the request was approved.
On 23 October 1932, Ron reported on board the US Navy transport, USS Kittery, at Norfolk, Virginia,