The U.S. Army said Sunday that the body of First Lieutenant Lamont Key Jr., one of two American service members who vanished in waters off Morocco's southern coast, has been recovered. Moroccan military search teams found Key at about 8:55 a.m. Saturday local time along the shoreline about a mile from where he and another soldier disappeared on May 2.
Key was 27 and from Richmond, Virginia. He served as an air defense artillery officer with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and his remains were taken to an area morgue as plans moved forward to return them to the United States.
The recovery narrows one part of a search that has drawn more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel since the two service members disappeared just over a week before the Army's announcement. Search operations for the second serviceman are continuing.
The soldiers were taking part in African Lion, an annual training exercise, though defense officials previously said the incident was not believed to be related to the exercise. A preliminary report said the pair had gone on a hike to watch the sunset when a soldier known not to be able to swim fell into the water. Officials said the second missing soldier jumped in to try to rescue him and was hit by a wave, and that other soldiers tried to save both men but were unsuccessful.
Key joined his battalion in 2025 and later became a platoon leader. Before entering the military in 2023, he earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in North Carolina, along with minors in international business, entrepreneurship and business administration. His commander, Chris Couch, said Key embodied the highest standards of service as a selfless, inspirational leader whose dedication to his soldiers and their development would leave an enduring legacy. Curtis King, who is leading support for the unit, said the soldiers were grieving, should continue to support one another, and would honor Key's life and service as the search for the other missing man goes on.
