US soldiers in morocco were still missing after a training exercise on 2 May, and one of them has now been recovered from the water near the shoreline. The US Army identified the soldier as 27-year-old 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, a platoon leader and air defence artillery officer from Richmond, Virginia.
A Moroccan military search team found Key’s body in the water along the shoreline within about a mile of the cliffs where he and another US soldier went missing. Key’s body was taken to a nearby morgue and will be repatriated to the US.
African Lion 2026 Search
The soldiers were taking part in African Lion 2026, the annual joint military exercise hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia. US and Moroccan forces are still searching for the other missing soldier with ground, air and maritime assets.
Curtis King, the commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said, "Our hearts are with his Family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him," and added, "The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Family is grieving, and we will continue to support one another and 1st Lt. Key's Family as we honor his life and service."
Morocco Shoreline Recovery
According to a preliminary report cited by CBS News, the soldiers were hiking with a group to view the sunset when one fell into the ocean. Other service members used their belts to form a human chain in an attempt to rescue the soldier, and another soldier jumped into the ocean to help. That soldier, who did not know how to swim, was immediately hit by a wave, prompting a third soldier to jump in after them both.
The third soldier made it back to camp on their own after failing to rescue the first two, officials said. The recovery of Key’s body closes one part of the search, but the effort for the other missing soldier continues across Morocco by land, air and sea.
