U.S. Army, 1968-70, served in Vietnam
Ed Hastreiter founded Waukesha-based EWH Small Business Accounting S.C. in 1979 after serving in the U.S. Army and later earning an accounting degree.
He was drafted into the Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam as an infantryman from 1969 to 1970. Hastreiter was wounded on March 19th, 1969, but returned to duty in the field to serve out his tour in Vietnam and returned home in 1970, receiving an honorable discharge as a sergeant E-E5.
While in Vietnam, Hastreiter attended a Bob Hope show where the entertainer passed out applications to the college of the service person’s choice. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he graduated with a degree in accounting.
At 20, Hastreiter was squad leader in the infantry. He says he carried leadership lessons back with him to start and grow EWH Small Business Accounting.
“Ed has made a tremendous impact on my life,” said one employee. “I have worked for Ed for 12 years and plan to spend the rest of my career working for him. Ed has given me education, compassion, generosity and more than one second chance.”
