LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Gregg Baltazar Timbol has never met his grandfather, but he has spent more than half of his life fighting for him.

Corporal Fernando Ruiz Baltazar was a member of the Philippine Scouts.

When World War II broke out, the Philippines was a U.S. colony, and their soldiers fought as American soldiers. They were promised U.S. citizenship at the end of the war.

Those who survived were granted citizenship, but those who were killed never got that chance.

Corporal Baltazar was killed in action in 1942 while fighting Japan, and his body was never recovered.

Growing up, Timbol would visit his grandfather's gravestone in Manila.

"My question is ... this is Manila American Cemetery. They're not citizens, but why? Why are they not citizens?"

Timbol reached out to the U.S.

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