The remains of a U.S soldier, who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago, have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, the army confirmed on Sunday.
First Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Air Defense Artillery officer, was identified as the soldier found. He was one of two U.S personnel who fell from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike.
Both soldiers were reported missing on 2 May after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in the North African nation. Search efforts are continuing for a second missing serviceman.
“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8.55am local time on 9 May, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa stated.
Their disappearance occurred around 9pm near the Cap Draa Training Area, outside Tan-Tan, a region characterised by mountains, desert, and semi-desert plains, according to Moroccan military reports.
The incident prompted a large-scale search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and other military partners, deploying frigates, vessels, helicopters, and drones.
Search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the issue.
The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the army said. His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.
African Lion 26, is a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.
Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.
