Statement Concerning Age Error (April 26, 1941)

Statement concerning age error on both Mont. N.G. and FMCR enlistment papers.

In 1926 or 1927, whichever year is shown, these papers not being in my possession, I enlisted in the Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Headquarters Company, located at Helena, Montana, at the specific request of the late Captain Ferguson, my father’s friend, and who was then in command.

Captain Ferguson I informed of my age, which was sixteen. In order to enlist I would have to have a consent paper from my parents. These I had recently left in Guam. Captain Ferguson put down my age as eighteen to save the four or five months it would have taken to have communicated with my parents – airmail not being in service at that time and transports very few. This practice was quite usual and the company was filled with young men out of High School.

I served only a few months in this company for I was recalled to the tropics by my parents.

In 1930 I enlisted in the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, 20th Regiment, Company G and because my papers read in error and because no oath or birth certificate was involved, the error was perpetuated, whether correctly or not I cannot state.

I have an official age with the Navy, my correct age, which has been on record most of my life.

This error of age is regretted at this time even though it is very usual. I have the precedence of my own father, Lt.-Cmdr. H.R.Hubbard (SC) USN who, being five years younger than needful at the time of his entrance into the service, was officially five years older than the truth until sometime in the twenties when this was officially adjusted.

(signed)
L. Ron Hubbard