U.S. Soldier Recovered in Morocco Search

The U.S. Army said it has recovered the body of 1st Lt. Lamont Key Jr., one of two American service members who went missing in Morocco during an annual training exercise. Key disappeared along with another unidentified soldier in waters off Morocco’s southern coast near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2. According to a preliminary report, the two were part of a group that had gone hiking to watch the sunset when one soldier, who reportedly could not swim, fell into the water. The second soldier jumped in to try to help, but was struck by a wave, and others’ rescue attempts were unsuccessful. A Moroccan military search team found Key’s body along the shoreline Saturday morning, about a mile from where the soldiers vanished. Search efforts for the second missing service member are continuing, with more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civilian personnel involved so far. The Army said the ongoing search will focus on the area where Key’s remains were found while monitoring a broader perimeter. Key, 27, from Richmond, Virginia, served as an air defense artillery officer with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. Leaders described him as selfless, caring, and inspirational, noting his dedication to soldiers and their development. He joined his battalion in 2025 and had become a platoon leader. The Army said his next of kin were notified, his remains were transported to a morgue, and plans are underway to repatriate them to the United States. He is survived by his parents, sister, and brother-in-law.

The article reports that the remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old U.S. Army officer from Richmond, Virginia, were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean after he went missing during a military exercise in Morocco. Key and another U.S. soldier disappeared on May 2 while taking part in African Lion, a large multinational U.S.-led exercise conducted across Morocco and several other African nations. According to military officials, the two soldiers were believed to have fallen from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan. A Moroccan military search team located Key in the water along the shoreline on Saturday, about one mile from where the soldiers were believed to have entered the ocean. U.S. Army Europe and Africa confirmed the recovery on Sunday, and Brig. Gen. Curtis King issued a statement mourning Key’s death and emphasizing support for his family and unit. Search-and-rescue efforts will continue for the second missing soldier, with more than 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other military partners involved, along with ships, helicopters, and drones. The article also provides background on Key’s military service, noting that he entered the Army in 2023 as an officer candidate, earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024, and later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served in the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and received awards including the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon. The piece concludes with context about African Lion, which is described as the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa, and notes a previous fatal Osprey crash near Cap Draa in 2012.

The article reports that the remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old U.S. Army officer, were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean after he and another U.S. soldier went missing during a recreational hike in Morocco. The soldiers disappeared around May 2 while participating in African Lion, a major U.S.-led multinational military exercise hosted in Morocco. According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa, a Moroccan military search team found Key’s remains along the shoreline on May 9, about a mile from where the two soldiers were believed to have entered the ocean. The second soldier remains missing, and search-and-rescue efforts continue with U.S., Moroccan, and other partner forces involved. The operation has included more than 600 personnel, along with frigates, vessels, helicopters, and drones. The article also provides background on Key’s military service and on African Lion 26, which spans four African countries and involves more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. A brief historical note recalls a 2012 helicopter crash in Morocco that killed two U.S. Marines during the same exercise series.