FILE – U.S and Moroccan navy forces participate within the twentieth version of the African Lion navy train, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Could 31, 2024.
Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP
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Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP
CASABLANCA, Morocco — The stays of a U.S. soldier who went lacking throughout navy workout routines in Morocco per week in the past had been recovered within the Atlantic Ocean, the military mentioned Sunday. Navy groups had been nonetheless trying to find a second lacking soldier.
The stays had been these of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Protection Artillery officer who was one in every of two U.S. troopers who fell off a cliff throughout a leisure hike in Morocco whereas off responsibility. He was 27 years outdated.
The 2 had been reported lacking Could 2 after taking part in African Lion, an annual multinational navy train held in Morocco.
“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S. Military Europe and Africa mentioned in an announcement.
The 2 went lacking round 9 p.m. close to the Cap Draa Coaching Space exterior Tan-Tan, a terrain characterised by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, in line with the Moroccan navy.
Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving greater than 600 personnel from the US, Morocco and different navy companions. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
Search efforts will proceed for the lacking second soldier, a U.S. protection official informed The Related Press on situation of anonymity as they weren’t allowed to talk publicly on the difficulty.
The official mentioned a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the warfare video games ended Friday to supply command and management and to proceed search and rescue operations.
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, fifth Battalion, 4th Air Protection Artillery Regiment, tenth Military Air and Missile Protection Command, the military mentioned. His decorations embrace the Military Achievement Medal and Military Service Ribbon.
He entered navy service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his fee by way of Officer Candidate College in 2024 as an Air Protection Artillery officer. He later accomplished the Fundamental Officer Chief Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in line with the assertion.
African Lion 26, is a U.S.-led train launched in April throughout 4 international locations – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with greater than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the most important U.S. joint navy train in Africa.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines had been killed and two others injured throughout a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern metropolis of Agadir whereas participating within the workout routines.
