The Dutch Nelsen Chapter, KWVA, was established in 1989 in Colorado Springs.  Originally named the Colorado Chapter, it was renamed in 1992 in honor of our founder, retired Army LTC Ellsworth "Dutch" Nelsen, who fought the first six campaigns of the Korean War.  He later served in Vietnam and retired as Chief of Staff of Fort Carson, Colorado.

In the mid-1990s, the Chapter began a planning and fund-raising campaign to dedicate the first Colorado monument to Korean War veterans.  Instrumental in planning were Mr. Charlie Snow and Mr. Lloyd Payne (winner of two Silver Stars); sadly, both men died in 2005.