Lear, Ben, 1879-1966

Ben Lear (1879-1966) was born in Hamilton, Ontario. He received his commission in the 1st Colorado Infantry Volunteers in 1899 and the cavalry, Regular Army in 1901. He saw duty in the Philippine Islands in 1903, and later participated in the Olympic Games in Stockholm June and July 1912. He served with the War Department General Staff in 1918, and graduated from School of the Line in 1922 and Army General Staff School in 1923. He was an instructor at General Service Schools from 1923 to 1925, and graduated from the Army War College in 1926. He reached the rank of brigadier general in May 1936, and then commanded the 1st Cavalry Division from 1936 to 1938. He reached the rank of major general in October 1938, commanding the Pacific Sector of the Panama Canal Zone from 1938 to 1940, then the Second Army from October 1940 to April 1943. He reached the rank of lieutenant general in May 1943, and retired shortly thereafter. He was immediately recalled to active duty, and became a member of the secretary of war's Personnel Board in 1943 and 1944. He commanded the Army Ground Forces from July1944 to January 1945, and was deputy commander of U.S. Army forces in the European Theater of Operations from January to July 1945.

From the description of Lear, Ben, 1879-1966 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10612135