The U.S. Army has recovered the remains of a Black soldier who went missing in Morocco a week ago. 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, fell off a cliff during a military exercise in Morocco on May 2, according to NBC News.
He was one of two soldiers who fell while participating in African Lion, a multinational military exercise held annually in Morocco. African Lion 26 was launched in April across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal, with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations participating. It has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004, per NBC.
The Moroccan military claims the two soldiers went missing near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, which is covered by mountainous and desert terrain. The remains of the other soldier have not yet been found.
“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. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement shared with the outlet.
Among Key’s military decorations are the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate. He earned a commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer.
He was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
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