Remains recovered of US soldier who went missing in military exercises in Morocco, 2nd soldier still missing

The remains of a U.S. Army serviceman who went missing during subject exercises successful Morocco were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, portion the hunt continues for a 2nd missing soldier, according to subject officials.

The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia, were recovered Saturday, U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced Sunday. Key, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, was 1 of 2 U.S. soldiers who reportedly fell from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike adjacent the Cap Draa Training Area connected May 2.

A Moroccan subject hunt squad recovered Key successful the h2o on the shoreline astatine astir 8:55 a.m. section clip Saturday, astir 1 mile from wherever some soldiers reportedly entered the ocean, the Army said.

"Today, we mourn the nonaccomplishment of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were recovered successful Morocco," Brig. Gen Curtis King, commanding wide of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said successful a statement. "Our hearts are with his Family, friends, teammates, and each who knew and served alongside him. The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Family is grieving, and we volition proceed to enactment 1 different and 1st Lt. Key’s Family arsenic we grant his beingness and service."

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The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered. (U.S. Army Europe and Africa)

Key and the 2nd worker were reported missing connected May 2 aft participating successful African Lion, an yearly multinational subject workout hosted crossed Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.

The 2 were reported missing astir 9 p.m. adjacent the Cap Draa Training Area extracurricular Tan-Tan, a terrain featuring mountains, godforsaken and semi-desert plains, the Moroccan subject said.

The disappearance of the 2 soldiers led to a search-and-rescue ngo involving much than 600 unit from the U.S., Morocco and different subject partners. Ships, helicopters and drones were deployed arsenic portion of this operation.

Search efforts volition proceed for the 2nd missing soldier.

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The 2 soldiers were reported missing aft participating successful African Lion, an yearly multinational subject workout held successful Morocco. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A U.S. contingent remained successful Morocco aft the subject exercises ended connected Friday to supply bid and power and to enactment the ongoing hunt and rescue mission.

Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, according to the Army.

His decorations see the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

He entered subject work successful 2023 arsenic an serviceman campaigner and earned his committee done Officer Candidate School the pursuing twelvemonth arsenic an Air Defense Artillery officer. He aboriginal completed the Basic Officer Leader Course astatine Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Key is survived by his parents, his sister and his brother-in-law.

Search efforts volition proceed for the 2nd missing soldier. (Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP via Getty Images)

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African Lion 26 is simply a U.S.-led workout that began successful April crossed Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, with much than 5,600 civilian and subject unit from much than 40 nations.

For much than 20 years, it has been the largest U.S. associated subject workout successful Africa.

In 2012, 2 U.S. Marines were killed, and 2 others injured during an MV-22 Osprey clang adjacent Cap Draa portion participating successful Exercise African Lion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.