Sergeant Abney was a Military Police Supervisor with the 8202nd Army Unit, Korean Military Assistance Group (KMAG). He was Killed in Action while advising the South Koreans in North Korea on 20 October 1952.

Abney was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.