 On the same day that Hubbard was sent a formal letter of admonition , he reported sick with complaints of epigastric pains and possible malaria . After 77 days on the sick list , it was finally determined that he was suffering from a duodenal ulcer . In October 1943 , he asked to be transferred to landing craft and was sent on a six @-@ week training course at the Naval Small Craft Training Center in San Pedro , California . He was then ordered in December 1943 to join the crew of the USS Algol , an Attack Cargo Auxiliary Vessel , to assist with the ship 's fitting out and crew training in Portland , Oregon . The vessel was commissioned in July 1944 with Hubbard aboard in the role of Navigation and Training Officer . The next two months were occupied with training exercises off the California coast in preparation for the ship 's envisaged departure in September for the western Pacific theater of operations . 
