Private First Class Avant was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded in South Korea on 30 August 1950 and returned to duty shortly thereafter. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 21 September 1950.

Avant was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.