U.S. Army Europe And Africa Finds 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. Remains In Morocco

The U.S. Army Europe and Africa said a Moroccan military search team found the remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. at 8:55 a.m. Saturday, recovering him along the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean within 1 mile of where the two U.S. soldiers were believed to have disappeared.

Key, 27, and a second U.S. soldier went missing May 2 near Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan during African Lion 26, and the disappearance was described as occurring while they were off duty and on a recreational hike.

ABC News

The U.S. Army said the remains were recovered in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, and it said the search-and-rescue operation was triggered by the disappearance.

The search involved more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners, and it deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones as U.S. teams continued looking for the second missing soldier.

Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement, "Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates and all who knew and served alongside him."

The U.S. Army Europe and Africa said Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and it said he was known for "the care he showed for his soldiers, his commitment to others and the relationships he built across the formation."

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Euronews reported that the disappearances triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners, and it said search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier.

NPR said the remains were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean and that military teams were still searching for a second missing soldier, while a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the war games ended Friday.

The incident unfolded during African Lion 26, which Euronews described as a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries—Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal—with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.

CBS News reported that defense officials previously told CBS News the incident was not believed to be related to African Lion, and it described a preliminary report in which a soldier known to not be able to swim fell into the water while a group hiked to watch the sunset.

The U.S. Army said Key’s next of kin were notified, and it said plans were underway to repatriate his remains to the United States as search operations continued for the second missing soldier.

UPI said Key’s remains were transported by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces via helicopter to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, located about 265 miles southwest of Marrakesh, as the search for the remaining soldier continued.