Army recovers, identifies one of two soldiers missing in Morocco

The U.S. Army recovered the body of one of the two soldiers who went missing a week ago while taking part in an international training exercise in Morocco.

This afternoon, the Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa announced that Moroccan search and rescue teams located the remains of 1st. Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia. Key, an air defense artillery officer, served as a platoon leader with Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

“Today, we mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were recovered in Morocco,” Brig. Gen Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in the announcement. “Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him. 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.”

Key was part of a large American military presence at the Cap Draa Training Area for African Lion 26, a large multi-national exercise being held in four countries. American troops at the training area, near the southwestern Moroccan city of Tan Tan, were training in artillery drills, drone tactics and other maneuvers. On May 2, Key was with several other troops who were hiking near the Atlantic coast after completing drills for the day. One soldier fell into the water by oceanside cliffs, according to reports, and two more went in to try and rescue them. Only one soldier got out while the two others were reported missing that night. It’s unclear if Key was the first soldier to fall into the water. 

His remains were found near the shoreline Saturday morning local time, SETAF said. A Moroccan military search team found him approximately a mile from where the two soldiers fell into the water.

According to the Army, Key joined the Army as an officer candidate in 2023 and commissioned a year later. He joined Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in 2025. His decorations include the Army Service Medal and Army Achievement Medal. 

Lt. Col. Chris Couch, the commander of 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, called Key “a selfless, inspirational leader whose unwavering dedication to his Soldiers and their development leaves an enduring legacy within our ranks.”

Search and rescue efforts have involved American, French and Moroccan military aircraft and ships, as well as hundreds of military and civilian personnel. 

The search for the second soldier, who has not been named, is ongoing. Yesterday SETAF confirmed that a contingent of American personnel would remain in the area around Cap Draa to carry out the search for the missing soldiers.

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