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The remains of a US Army officer who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, while the search for another missing soldier continues, according to military officials.
U.S. Forces Europe and Africa announced Sunday that the remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia, were recovered Saturday. Key, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, was one of two U.S. soldiers who reportedly fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Dra training area on May 2.
A Moroccan military search team found the keys in the water along the shoreline at about 8:55 a.m. local time on Saturday, about a mile from where the two soldiers reportedly entered the sea, the army said.
“Today, we mourn the passing of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were recovered in Morocco,” Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, teammates and all who knew him and served with him. The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command family is grieving, and we will continue to support 2nd and 1st Lt. Key’s family as we honor his life and service.”
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The remains of 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Jr. were recovered. (US Army Europe and Africa)
Ki and another soldier were reported missing on 2 May after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.
The Moroccan military said the two were reported missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa training area outside Tan-Tan, an area of mountains, desert and semi-desert plains.
A search and rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the US, Morocco and other military partners was launched after the two soldiers went missing. Ships, helicopters and drones were deployed as part of this operation.
Efforts to search for the second missing soldier will continue.
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The two soldiers were reported missing after taking part in African Lion, the annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
A US contingent is staying in Morocco to provide command and control and support ongoing search and rescue operations after military exercises ended on Friday.
According to the Army, Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
He entered military service as an officer candidate in 2023 and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School as an Air Defense Artillery Officer the following year. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Key is survived by his parents, his sister and his brother-in-law.
Efforts to search for the second missing soldier will continue. (Abdel Majid Baziouat/AFP via Getty Images)
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African Lion 26 is a US-led exercise that began in April in Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, involving more than 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 countries.
It has been the largest US joint military exercise in Africa for more than 20 years.
In 2012, two US Marines were killed and two others were injured when an MV-22 Osprey crashed near Cap Draa while participating in Exercise African Lion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
