By Blessing Nweke
The remains of a missing U.S. soldier who disappeared during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, while search operations continue for a second missing service member, the U.S. Army said Sunday.
The soldier was identified as 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Air Defense Artillery officer. He was one of two American soldiers who reportedly fell from a cliff into the ocean during an off-duty recreational hike near Morocco’s Cap Draa Training Area.
The two soldiers were reported missing on May 2 after taking part in African Lion 26, a major multinational military exercise led by the United States across several African nations.
According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa, a Moroccan military search team located Key’s remains in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, less than a mile from where the soldiers were believed to have entered the ocean.
The incident occurred near Tan-Tan in southern Morocco, an area known for its rugged mountains, desert terrain and semidesert plains.
The disappearance sparked a large-scale multinational search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and partner nations. Helicopters, drones, frigates and other vessels were deployed during the search effort.
A U.S. defense official said American forces would remain in Morocco after the conclusion of the military drills on Friday to continue rescue operations and provide command support.
Key joined the Army in 2023 and earned his commission in 2024. His awards included the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. African Lion remains the largest annual U.S.-led military exercise on the African continent.
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