After the German counter-attack in the Ardennes caused a manpower crisis, in January 1945 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 realized.
Lear fully retired from the army in July 1945 and was promoted to general on July 19, 1954, by special Act of Congress (Public Law 83-508).