Remains Of U.s. Soldier Who Went Missing In Morocco Recovered

CASABLANCA, Morocco — The remains of a U.S. Army worker who went missing while successful Morocco for subject exercises a week agone person been recovered successful nan Atlantic Ocean, nan U.S. subject said Sunday. Military teams are still searching for a 2nd missing American soldier.

The remains recovered are those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, who was 1 of 2 U.S. soldiers who fell disconnected a cliff during a recreational hike successful Morocco while disconnected duty. He was 27 years old.

The 2 were reported missing May 2 aft participating successful African Lion, yearly multinational subject exercises held successful Morocco.

“A Moroccan subject hunt squad recovered nan Soldier successful nan h2o on nan shoreline astatine astir 8:55 a.m. section clip May 9, wrong astir 1 mile of wherever some Soldiers reportedly entered nan ocean,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa said successful a statement.

The 2 went missing astir 9 p.m. connected May 2 adjacent nan Cap Draa training area extracurricular Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, godforsaken and semidesert plains, according to nan Moroccan military.

Their disappearance triggered a hunt and rescue cognition involving much than 600 unit from nan United States, Morocco and different subject partners. The cognition deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.

Search efforts will proceed for nan 2nd soldier, a U.S. defense charismatic told nan Associated Press connected information of anonymity, arsenic nan charismatic was not allowed to speak publically connected nan issue.

The charismatic said a U.S. contingent remained successful Morocco aft nan multinational warfare games ended Friday to supply bid and power and to proceed hunt and rescue operations.

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

He earned a bachelor‘s grade successful trading from Methodist University successful Fayetteville, N.C., pinch minors successful world business, entrepreneurship and business administration. He entered subject work successful 2023 arsenic an serviceman campaigner and earned his committee done Officer Candidate School successful 2024 arsenic an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed nan basal serviceman leader people astatine Ft. Sill, Okla., according to nan statement.

The hunt and rescue operation, now successful its ninth day, has covered much than 4,600 quadrate miles of oversea and littoral zone, presently adding much than 1,000 quadrate miles per day.

The soldiers had been taking portion successful African Lion 26, a U.S.-led workout launched successful April crossed 4 countries — Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal — pinch much than 7,000 unit from much than 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been nan largest U.S. associated subject workout successful Africa.

In 2012, 2 U.S. Marines were killed and 2 others injured during a chopper clang successful Morocco’s confederate metropolis of Agadir while taking portion successful nan exercises.

Oubachir writes for nan Associated Press.