The remains of an American soldier found as a second soldier are still missing in Morocco
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The remains of a US military officer who went missing during an exercise in Morocco have been found in the Atlantic Ocean, and the search is on for a second missing soldier, according to military officials.
The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia, was found on Saturday, US Army Europe and Africa announced on Sunday. Key, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, was one of two US soldiers who reportedly fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational trip near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2.
A Moroccan military team found the key in the waters off the coast at about 8:55 a.m. local time on Saturday, about one mile from where the two soldiers reportedly went into the sea, the military said.
“Today, we mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were found in Morocco,” Brig. General Curtis King, who heads the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 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 each other and the Family of 1st Lt. Key as we honor his life and his service.”
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The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. have been found. (US Army Europe and Africa)
Key and a second soldier were reported missing on May 2 after participating in the African Lion, an annual military game held in Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.
The two were reported missing around 09:00 near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, which is an area of ​​mountains, desert and semi-desert plains, the Moroccan military said.
The disappearance of the two soldiers led to a search and rescue mission involving more than 600 personnel from the US, Morocco and other military partners. Ships, helicopters and drones have been used as part of this operation.
Search efforts will continue for the second missing soldier.
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The two soldiers were reported missing after participating in the African Lion, an annual international military campaign held in Morocco. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The US team remained in Morocco after military exercises ended on Friday to provide command and control and support the ongoing search and rescue operation.
The key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, according to the Army.
His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
He entered the military service in 2023 as an officer and received his commission through Officer Candidate School the following year as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Key is survived by his parents, sister and brother-in-law.
Search efforts will continue for the second missing soldier. (Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP via Getty Images)
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African Lion 26 is a US-led exercise that began in April across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, with more than 5,600 troops from more than 40 countries.
For more than 20 years, it has been the largest US military coalition in Africa.
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.
