Corporal Avant was a member of the Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. While serving on Task Force McLean near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, he was listed as Missing in Action on 30 November 1950. He was presumed dead on 31 December 1953. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Avant 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.