Anna Frankl, daughter of Max and Theresa grew up in New York and married Oscar Dryer in 1926. Oscar had served in the army during the first World War. Their only child (Richard Edward) was born in November 1930.
Richard achieved his grandfather Maximilian‘s original ambition by training at Hebrew Union College to become a Rabbi, receiving S’micha in 1957, by which time he had married Arlene Gottlieb. In fact he soon joined the army and was posted to Germany with Arlene. While they were based in Erlangen in Bavaria, they adopted a baby girl whom they called Deborah Sue.
Richard later served in Vietnam, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel. There is an interesting report of how he organised Seder nights for Jewish servicemen and women serving in Vietnam. After the 1965 seder, the Hon. Richard B Russell, senator for Georgia, made a report to the President detailing the efforts that Richard made to ensure that adequate Passover supplies were made available not only in Saigon but also in a number of other locations where Jewish forces were located. This included ordering 2,456 pounds weight of supplies. He also managed to persuade the USO Club in Saigon to allow their facilities to be used for up to 100 soldiers. This included providing new, unused crockery and cutlery. He described his proudest moment in the army as being when he managed to establish a kosher kitchen in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice.
After his return from Vietnam, the family settled in San Antonio, Texas, where they became very active in their local Reform Temple (called Beth El). Arlene is still very active in her temple and other charitable activities in and around San Antonio. She is a retired social worker and worked for Jewish Family Services in San Antonio. Deborah grew up and trained as an army nurse. She married Tom Clutts, but unfortunately died from a stroke in 2008. She and Tom had two children: Rachel and Jonathan.
In 1998, at the wedding of Joshua Frankl and Hana Solomon, Richard gave them the traditional blessing under the Chuppah. He passed away in 2001.
