WWII US Army – Lt General Ben Lear – Three Star Generals Helmet – Deputy Commander of European Theater of Operations – Former: 2nd Army Commander – Rangers Large Presentation Photo Album – Ultra Rare (Sold)
Description
Ben Lear was born in Hamilton, Ontario on May 12, 1879. His military service began in 1898, when he enlisted with the 1st Colorado Infantry, USV, for the Spanish-American War as a First Sergeant. He was promoted to second lieutenant during the Philippine-American War in the 1st Colorado and later in the 36th Infantry, USV, but joined the regular army as a sergeant at the end of the war. He subsequently served in World War I.
He was promoted to Brigadier General in May 1936 and Major General in October 1938. He commanded the 1st Cavalry Division from 1936 to 1938, and the Pacific Sector of the Panama Canal Zone from 1938 to 1940. He was commanding general of the U.S. Second Army from October 20, 1940 to April 25, 1943 and was promoted to temporary lieutenant general in October 1940. As such, he was responsible for training a large number of U.S. soldiers during World War II.
He became known as a strict disciplinarian. During the Louisiana Manoeuvres, Lear led his U.S. Second Army against the U.S. Third Army under Lieutenant General Walter Krueger. In these manoeuvres, Lear judged the control and discipline of the 35th Division to be unsatisfactory and relieved Truman of his command.
Lear Commanded the US Second Army from 1940 till 1943. Responsible for training around 1 million US Soldiers for active combat duty.
The Second Army earned distinction as a training army during World War II, preparing nearly one million men to fight. The U.S. Army activated a new Second Army in October 1933, with headquarters at Chicago, Illinois, as one of four field armies that would help mobilise forces in the event of a national emergency. In December 1940, the Army moved Second Army’s headquarters to Memphis, Tennessee, and designated it as a training army, which conducted training in 24 states. In June 1944, the Army reconstituted the World War I Second Army, AEF, and consolidated it with the existing Second Army in order to perpetuate the lineage and honours of the World War I unit. During World War II, Second Army trained 11 corps, 55 divisions, and 2,000 smaller units of all arms and services, totaling almost a million men, for employment in all theatres of operation.
Lear did retire in May 1943, but was immediately recalled to active duty to serve on the Personnel Board of the Secretary of War, and promoted to Lieutenant General and later became Commanding General of Army Ground Forces.
After the German counter-attack in the Ardennes, caused a manpower crisis, he was appointed Deputy Commander of European Theater of Operations, US Army, responsible for Theater Manpower. As such, he overhauled the replacement system, but the war against Germany ended before the full benefits of his reforms could be realised.
He retired again in July 1945, but was promoted to General on July 19, 1954 by special Act of Congress (Public Law 83-508).
He died on November 2, 1966. His Medals include the Distinguished Service Medal (2) and the Silver Star.
Grave Photo: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/blear.htm
The incident when Lear sparked Public outcry when he disciplined Soldiers for shouting and whistling at ladies, which he witnessed in civilian clothes.
His Nickname
It was in the lead-up to these maneuvers that Lear acquired the nickname “Yoo-Hoo”. Lear was playing golf at the country club in Memphis, Tennessee, in civilian clothes on July 6, 1941, when a convoy of 80 U.S. Army trucks carrying men of the 110th Quartermaster Regiment, 35th Division rolled past. The troops in the passing trucks subjected a group of women in shorts to a series of whistles and “lewd and obscene” catcalls.
Lear had the convoy stopped, and told the officers that this conduct was unacceptable and they had disgraced the Army. Lear’s punishment was to make every one of the 350 men in the convoy march 15 miles (24 km) of the 45-mile (72 km) trip back to Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas in three 5-mile sections. This they did in the 97 °F (36 °C) heat. Many men straggled and a number collapsed. There was storm of public criticism of Lear’s action from people who felt that the soldiers had been harshly and collectively punished when many had done nothing wrong. The commander of the 35th Division, Major General Ralph E. Truman, was well-connected politically, his cousin being Senator Harry S. Truman, and some congressmen called for Lear to be retired. However, to Army eyes this was not a case of sexual harassment but of indiscipline, and no action was taken against Lear. The derogatory nickname “Yoo-Hoo” stuck.
The Helmet – It is clear that Lear was not keen on wearing his steel pot, applying his three stars on his M1 Helmet Liner for wear. A Westinghouse M1 Liner Named: “Lt Gen Ben Lear” with Three General Stars neatly added.
Any General’s Helmet is extremely rare to find, and this one would add to any advanced M1 Helmet collection.
Photo Album – Rangers School – Second US Army
The album (128 Pictures – 1 Certificate and Newspaper Cover) has a hand made cover titled Ranger School 2 Army – Lieut. Gen Ben Lear.
On page one, an empty certificate that General Lear would have signed for those that passed the Ranger School of the Second Army.
The unique photo album depicts what is listed on the certificate, each photo is described neatly. The album was likely a gift to the General from the Ranger School.
The Album is broke down in the following way:
Physical Conditioning Group 2
The Log Exercise
Hand to Hand Combat Group 3
Instructors of the Ranger School demonstrate how to push off a bayonet charge.
Individual Camouflage Group 4
Great photos showing men in all sorts of rarer or early camos and camo helmets.
Construction & Passing of Wire Entanglers Group 5
Photos depicting various methods of getting over or under wire traps
Booby Traps & Demolitions Group 6
Many photos of traps and various methods in order for GIs to come up with the right skills to identify a trap.
Sniping & Infiltration Group 7
Hip Firing M1s and Tommy Guns, Jungle Warfare Course, crawling under MG fire, explosions
Patrols & Ambush Group 8
Mock Nazi Village called Führerville
Scenes show close combat, explosions and immersive training
Stalking & Ambushing Tanks Group 9
Mines, obstacles and Molotov cocktails, as a mock tank gets destroyed from a sticky bomb
Stream Crossing Expedients & Use of Toggle Rope Bridge Group 10
Jeep towed through river, jeep aerial cableway river crossing with simulated explosions
Combat Reaction Proficiency Course Group 11
Obstacle Course, river swing, firing on river crossing
Cliff Scaling Group 11c
Showing a short series of cliff scaling
Final Review
Parade, Lear Saluting the Colors, Learsaluting as Rangers walk past,
Last Review
Lear walking towards the Ranger graduating class, General McNair, Lear inspecting his “brain child”
NewsPaper Cutting – The Commercial Appeal – Memphis, ,Feb 7 1943 – Lear`s Rangers are Rough
