Earl W. Toepperwein Collection

Captain Earl W. Toepperwein was born December 9, 1908, in Sabinal, Texas, the son of Albert Paul and Ada Toepperwein. After finishing his initial education, he attended the University of Texas, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in electrical engineering in 1931. After graduation in 1937, Captain Toepperwein worked on outside plant construction for the Southeastern Bell Telephone Company and installed carrier telephones, telegraphs, and radio equipment.

In 1941, Captain Toepperwein joined the United States armed forces and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Soon after, he was transferred to the Eighth Corps Area, Signal Office, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. On August 29, 1941, he received a direct Reserve Commission as a Second Lieutenant and was ordered to immediate active duty at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

In October 1941, Toepperwein went to Canada and England for radar work. For three months, he attended the Anti-aircraft Command School in London, England, and in March 1942, went to Yorkshire, England, where he oversaw all radar equipment for one of the Searchlight Batteries. He returned to the United States in October 1942, reporting to Fort Monmouth, where he was assigned to the Signal Corps General Development Laboratories, working with VHF equipment. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on December 11, 1942. When the 430th sub-depot (signal) moved to Allenhurst, New Jersey, Lieutenant Toepperwein was made Adjutant. He received the rank of Captain in the United States Army in July 1943.

In October 1945, Earl W. Toepperwein was promoted to Major at the Far East Air Service Command Air Depot at Biak, New Guinea. Before becoming a Major, Toepperwein served in the Asiatic-Pacific for over a year, serving in Brisbane, Australia; Hollandia; and Fischhaber, New Guinea. As a Major in the United States Army, Major Toepperwein served as the Chief of Production Control and Associated Equipment, second of the Maintenance Division of the Fourth Air Service Area command.

In September 1945, he left the military and returned to the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company until he retired in 1974. Major Earl Webb Toepperwein passed away on March 3, 1992, and was buried in Boerne, Texas.