Private First Class Colp was assigned to Camp Carson, Colorado. He had recently returned from serving 18 months in Korea. On 25 January 1952, he was injured in an automobile accident and hospitalized at the U.S. Army Valley Forge General Hospital near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After returning to Camp Carson, he had a relapse and died.

Colp was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, The Army of Occupation Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.