U.S. Soldier's Body Recovered in Morocco; Search Continues for Second Missing Service Member
The body of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., who went missing during a training exercise in Morocco, has been recovered; efforts to locate a second missing soldier are ongoing.
The body of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old U.S. Army officer, has been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean near Tan-Tan, Morocco. Key went missing on May 2 during a recreational hike following his participation in the African Lion military exercise. A Moroccan military search team found his remains on May 9, approximately one mile from the cliffs where he and another soldier reportedly fell into the ocean.
Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, expressed condolences, stating, > "Our hearts are with his Family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him."
The search for the second missing soldier continues, with over 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and partner nations involved. The incident occurred during African Lion 26, a large-scale military exercise involving over 7,000 troops from more than 30 countries across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal.
The soldiers had been hiking with a group to view the sunset when one fell into the ocean. Fellow service members attempted a rescue by forming a human chain, but when that failed, another soldier jumped in to assist and was immediately hit by a wave. A third soldier also entered the water but was unable to rescue the others and returned to shore safely.
The search operation includes military divers, canine teams, aircraft, helicopters, frigates, supply vessels, and unmanned aerial systems, covering over 45 square kilometers of land and sea. Despite the continuation of the African Lion exercise, locating the missing soldiers remains the top priority.