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U.S. Army Identifies Soldier Recovered In Morocco; Search For Second Continues
The U.S. Army said on Monday that remains recovered off Morocco on May 9 were identified as 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., and the search for a second missing soldier continues.[1]
A Moroccan military search team found Key's body in Atlantic waters along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, about one mile from where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean.[1] Key, 27, was a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.[1]
The two U.S. soldiers went missing around 9 p.m. on May 2 after falling from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco.[1] Their disappearance prompted a weeklong international search that deployed more than 600 personnel and assets including frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.[1] African Lion 26, the exercise the soldiers had been participating in, is the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa and involved thousands of personnel from over 30 nations.[1]
As of Monday, May 11, 2026, the second missing U.S. soldier had not been located and U.S. forces remained in Morocco to continue search-and-rescue operations.[2] Key entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate, was commissioned via Officer Candidate School in 2024, completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill and held decorations including the Army Achievement Medal.[3]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- The recovered remains were identified as 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr.).
- A Moroccan military search team found Key’s body in Atlantic waters along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, 2026, roughly one mile from where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean (Moroccan military search team).
- Two U.S. soldiers went missing around 9 p.m. on May 2, 2026, after falling off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan‑Tan, Morocco (Cap Draa Training Area).
- The disappearance prompted a weeklong, international search-and-rescue that deployed more than 600 personnel and assets — including frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones — from the U.S., Morocco and partner nations, and a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the exercise to continue operations (more than 600 personnel).
- African Lion 26, the exercise the soldiers had been participating in, is the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa and was reported in one account to involve more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal (African Lion 26).
- Key entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate, was commissioned via Officer Candidate School in 2024, completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and had decorations including the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon (Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill).
- As of May 11, 2026, the second missing U.S. soldier had not been located and search efforts were continuing, with U.S. troops remaining in Morocco to support ongoing search-and-rescue operations (second missing U.S. soldier).
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
May 11, 2026
3:22 PM
Body of U.S. Soldier Is Found Off the Coast of Morocco
New information:
- The New York Times piece confirms in additional detail that the body recovered on Saturday, May 9, 2026, off the coast of Morocco is that of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, one of two U.S. soldiers who went missing on May 2 after falling from a cliff near the Cap Draa Training Area.
- It reiterates that the remains were found in Atlantic waters along the shoreline about one mile from the point where the soldiers reportedly entered the ocean, and that the discovery followed a weeklong international search involving Moroccan and U.S. forces.
- The article underscores that the second missing soldier has still not been located as of Monday, May 11, 2026, and that U.S. troops remained in Morocco after African Lion 26 to continue search operations.
6:17 AM
Remains of US soldier who went missing in Morocco have been recovered
New information:
- NPR/AP piece confirms again that the remains recovered near the Cap Draa Training Area in Morocco were those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, who went missing May 2, 2026 during off-duty recreation after African Lion exercises.
- The article reiterates that a Moroccan military search team found Key's body in Atlantic waters along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, 2026, within roughly one mile of where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean.
- It restates that more than 600 personnel and multiple assets, including frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones from the U.S., Morocco and partner nations, have been deployed, and that a U.S. contingent remains in Morocco to provide command and control and continue search-and-rescue operations for the second missing soldier.
4:53 AM
Remains recovered of US soldier who went missing in military exercises in Morocco, 2nd soldier still missing
New information:
- Fox News confirms the soldier whose remains were recovered is 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer.
- Article specifies Moroccan military searchers found Key’s body in Atlantic waters along the shoreline at about 8:55 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 9, 2026, roughly one mile from where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean.
- The piece reiterates that the two soldiers fell from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area around 9 p.m. on May 2, 2026, after participating in African Lion exercises.
- Fox adds biographical detail: Key entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate, commissioned via Officer Candidate School in 2024, and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
- The article notes Key completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and lists his decorations, including the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
- It confirms African Lion 26 involved more than 5,600 civilian and military personnel from over 40 nations across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, and that a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the exercise ended Friday to support the search.
- The article reiterates that search efforts for the second missing soldier are continuing.
1:00 AM
Search team finds body of missing U.S. soldier in Morocco
New information:
- CBS reports on May 10, 2026, that the U.S. Army announced Sunday it had recovered the remains of one of the two missing American soldiers in Morocco.
- The CBS segment reaffirms that only one set of remains has been found so far, with a second soldier still missing as of May 10, 2026.
- The article confirms the recovery was carried out by a search team operating in Morocco, aligning with ongoing African Lion exercise search operations.
May 10, 2026
10:53 PM
Remains recovered of U.S. soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco
New information:
- The recovered remains were identified as those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old 14A Air Defense Artillery officer assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
- U.S. Army Europe and Africa said a Moroccan military search team found Key's body in the water along the Atlantic shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, 2026, within roughly one mile of where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean.
- The two U.S. soldiers went missing around 9 p.m. on May 2, 2026, after falling off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco.
- Their disappearance prompted a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other partner militaries, deploying frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
- A U.S. defense official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after African Lion 26 concluded on Friday, May 8, 2026, to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations for the second missing soldier.
- African Lion 26 involved more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal and remains the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.