The body of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., one of two U.S. soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in southwestern Morocco earlier this month, was recovered on May 10, the Army said. He was 27 years old.
A Moroccan military search team found Key's body along the shoreline at about 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, about a mile from where the soldiers were reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2. The Army said search and rescue efforts for the second U.S. soldier will continue.
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, where he served as a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer and platoon leader. He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate, earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 and joined Charlie Battery in 2025.
His path to the Army began before the uniform. Key earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with minors in international business, entrepreneurship and business administration. The Army said he was known for the care he showed for his soldiers, his commitment to others and the relationships he built across the formation.
Lt. Col. Chris Couch called him an exceptional teammate, and said Key embodied the highest standards of service as a selfless, inspirational leader whose dedication to his soldiers and their development leaves an enduring legacy within the ranks. Curtis King said the command was grieving and would continue to support Key's family as it honored his life and service.
The operation drew more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel, with support that included mountaineering and dive teams, aircraft, maritime assets and unmanned aerial systems. Christopher Donahue said he witnessed the professionalism and urgency of the combined search effort while in Morocco and thanked the Moroccan hosts and teammates from across the services who continued to search for the remaining soldier.
Key's next of kin have been notified. He is survived by his father, Kendrick Key Sr.; his mother, Jihan Key; his sister, Dakota Debose-Hill; and his brother-in-law, U.S. Army Spc. James Brown. The second U.S. soldier has not been identified, and the incident remains under investigation as the search continues in the same place where the training mission turned into a recovery effort.
