Body of missing U.S. soldier found and identified in Morocco
The search for two missing US soldiers off Morocco’s coast has taken a solemn turn: the Army says the body of one of them has now been found and identified as First Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr.
Grace Eliza GoodwinMonday May 11, 2026
The search for two missing US soldiers off Morocco’s coast has taken a solemn turn: the Army says the body of one of them has now been found and identified as First Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr.
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The remains of one of the two service members who disappeared last week during a training exercise in Morocco were recovered, the US Army said.
The 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 located Key’s body in the water along the shoreline, roughly a mile from the cliffs where both soldiers went missing on 2 May.
US and Moroccan forces are still searching for the other missing soldier, using ground, air and maritime resources in the effort.
Brig Gen Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement that the Army is mourning Key’s death.
“Our hearts are with his Family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him,” King said.
“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.”
The pair had been taking part in African Lion 2026, the annual joint military exercise intended to sharpen coordination between US forces, Nato allies, and African nations.
As the continent’s largest annual joint military exercise, African Lion is held across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia.
According to a preliminary report cited by the BBC’s US partner CBS News, the soldiers had been hiking with a group to watch the sunset when one of them fell into the ocean.
Other members of the group then tried to rescue the soldier by linking belts together to form a human chain, CBS reported. When that effort failed, another soldier jumped into the water to help their colleague, who reportedly could not swim.
That soldier was then struck by a wave, CBS reported, prompting a third service member to jump in after both of them. Officials said, according to CBS, that the third soldier was eventually able to return to camp on their own after the rescue attempt failed.
It remains unclear whether Key was the soldier who first fell into the ocean or the one who entered the water in an attempt to help.
The Army said his body was taken to a nearby morgue and will be returned to the United States.