The body of one of two U.S. soldiers who went missing during a military training exercise in Morocco has been recovered and identified, the U.S. Army said.
The soldier was identified as 27-year-old First Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a platoon leader and air defense artillery officer from Richmond, Virginia.
According to the U.S. Army, a Moroccan military search team recovered Key’s body from waters near the shoreline, about a mile from the cliffs where the two soldiers disappeared on May 2.
Search efforts involving U.S. and Moroccan forces are continuing for the second missing soldier, with teams deploying ground, air and maritime assets.
Brigadier General Curtis King, commander of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said the military community was mourning the loss.
“Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him,” King said in a statement.
“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 two soldiers were participating in African Lion 2026, a large-scale multinational military exercise involving U.S. forces, NATO allies and African partner nations. The annual drills are hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia.
According to CBS News, citing a preliminary report, the soldiers had been hiking with a group to watch the sunset when one of them fell into the ocean.
Other service members reportedly attempted a rescue by linking belts together to form a human chain. When that effort failed, another soldier jumped into the water to try to save the first soldier, who reportedly could not swim.
CBS reported that the second soldier was immediately struck by a wave, prompting a third soldier to enter the water in another rescue attempt. The third soldier later managed to return to camp safely after being unable to rescue the others.
Officials have not confirmed whether Key was the soldier who initially fell into the ocean or the one who attempted the rescue.
The U.S. Army said Key’s body was transferred to a nearby morgue before being prepared for repatriation to the United States.
