Herbert Sweet was born on October 8, 1919, in Hartford, Connecticut; the following year his family moved to Troy, New York, where he grew up and received his schooling. As a child, Sweet made his home with his uncle, Harold J. Nash.
Sweet returned from Korea in July 1952, and served thereafter as assistant to the professor of naval science, NROTC Unit at Columbia University in New York City for two years. Following his second tour of duty at Camp Lejeune, he was stationed in the Philippine Islands as barracks sergeant major, Subic Bay, from 1958 to 1960. Then he served as sergeant major of the 6th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District at Atlanta, Georgia. In July 1964 he was named sergeant major for the 3rd Marine Division (Fleet Marine Force in the Far East). While serving in this capacity, he was selected as the 4th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps by a board convened in Washington; he assumed his new post on July 16, 1965.
^Chapin, John (1993). Uncommen Men – The Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps (1 ed.). Shippensburg, Pennsylvania 17257-0152 USA: Burd Street Press. p. 336. ISBN0-942597-45-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)