Remains of Missing U.S. Army Soldier Recovered in Morocco
The U.S. Army has confirmed that it has recovered the remains of an American soldier who went missing in Morocco a week ago. Here is the latest on this developing situation.
Remains of Missing Soldier Recovered Off Coast of Morocco
Family members of a U.S. serviceman will get a bit of peace after learning that their loved one's remains were recovered in the waters off the coast of Morocco. The U.S. Army announced on Sunday that the remains of one of the two missing soldiers were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean. Search crews are still looking for the second missing soldier.
The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered after the pair of soldiers fell from a cliff while hiking in Morocco. Both soldiers were not on duty at the time of the incident. The 27-year-old was a member of the 14A Air Defense Artillery.
The two soldiers were reported missing on Saturday, May 2. They had been participating in what the Army calls African Lion, a multinational military exercise held each year in Morocco.
U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in the statement that "A Moroccan military search team found the soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 am local time, May 9, within roughly one mile of where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean." The two soldiers went missing at approximately 9 pm near the Cap Draa Training Area. This area is located outside Tan-Tan, a part of Morocco known for its rough terrain, mountains, and desert landscape.
A large-scale search-and-rescue operation was launched following the disappearance. According to the Moroccan military, more than 600 personnel representing the U.S., Morocco, and other global military partners were involved in the search. The operation includes helicopters, drones, vessels, and frigates.
A U.S. defense official told The Associated Press that the search efforts will persist for the second missing soldier. The official also said that a contingent of U.S. Army personnel stayed back in Morocco after the war games concluded on Friday in an effort to direct the search and rescue operations.
About the Deceased Soldier and the African Lion Program
More information is being released about the deceased soldier from Richmond, Virginia. The Army said that Key earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, along with minors in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration. Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. He was a decorated service member, including being honored as a recipient of an Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
Key first entered the military in 2023. He earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. Key then went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to complete the Basic Officer Leader Course. He joined Charlie Battery in 2025, serving as a platoon leader. The Army said that Key was best known for the "care he showed for his soldiers, his commitment to others, and the relationships he built across the formation."
He is survived by his father, Kendrick Key Sr.; his mother, Jihan Key; his sister, Dakota Debose-Hill; and his brother-in-law, U.S. Army Spc. James Brown.
African Lion is a military exercise that takes place across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal. According to the U.S. Army of Europe and Africa website, the goal of the program is to "strengthen interoperability among U.S. forces, NATO Allies, and African partner nations."
This year's annual event began in April. The Moroccan portion of the event started on April 27. Over 7,000 personnel from 30 countries participate in the exercise. The event has been distinguished as the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004.
This is not the first time that tragedy has struck the African Lion program. In 2012, two U.S. Marines died and two more were injured when a helicopter crashed in the southern Moroccan city of Agadir while participating in the exercises.
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