 Hubbard joined the United States Navy during the summer of 1941 , a few months before the United States entered the Second World War . He applied in March 1941 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant , Junior Grade on July 19 , 1941 , entering permanent active duty in November . He specifically volunteered for " Special Service ( intelligence duties ) " , an assignation recorded on his commission papers . He spent only a brief time in this nominal role with the Office of Naval Intelligence . After four months working in public relations and at the US Hydrographic Office , he spent three weeks at the Third Naval District in New York training for the role of Intelligence Officer . Hubbard 's training was curtailed by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 , 1941 , and on December 18 he was sent to the Philippines via Australia . He was put ashore in Brisbane in January 1942 when his ship was re @-@ routed . He was ordered back to the United States aboard the transport vessel USS Chaumont the following month at the instigation of the US Naval Attaché to Australia , who cabled Washington to complain : 
