Ronald Steven Sweet

Ronald Steven Sweet was born in Evanston, IL and moved to Des Moines as a young man. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial design from the University of Cincinnati. While in college he was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and the president of the industrial design fraternity, the Ciagia. Sweet joined the Marine Corps in early 1967. He trained as an engineer and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division once he arrived in Vietnam. He was killed on September 13, 1967. 2LT Sweet and another Marine were working in a mine field when they inadvertently triggered a friendly mine. Sweet received fatal wounds and died on the scene; the other Marine was evacuated and later died from his injuries. Ronald Sweet was 24 years old at the time of his death. A funeral service was held at the Theresa’s Catholic Church and he was buried at the Glendale Cemetery, both in Des Moines.