CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — The remains of a U.S. soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago have been found in the Atlantic Ocean, the military said Sunday. Military teams were still searching for a second missing soldier.
The remains were those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., an officer with the 14A Air Defense Artillery, who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty. He was 27 years old.
The two were reported missing on May 2 after taking part in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco.
“A Moroccan military search team located the Soldier in the water along the coastline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, approximately one mile from where the two soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” US Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.
The two disappeared around 9pm near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semi-desert plains, according to the Moroccan military.
Their disappearance prompted a search and rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, ships, helicopters and drones.
Search efforts will continue for the second missing soldier, a US defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The official said a US contingent remained in Morocco after the war games ended on Friday to provide command and control and continue search and rescue operations.
The key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the military said. His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.
African Lion 26, is a US-led exercise launched in April in four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 countries. Since 2004, it has been the largest joint US military exercise in Africa.
In 2012, two US Marines were killed and two others were injured in a helicopter crash in the southern Moroccan city of Agadir while participating in training.
By AKRAM OUBACHIR Associated Press
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