US Army Recovers Body of Second Soldier Missing in Morocco

CBS News reported Wednesday that the US Army has recovered and identified the remains of the second US soldier missing in Morocco, closing a nearly two-week search along a rugged stretch of the North African coastline.

Both Soldiers From African Lion Exercise Now Accounted For

US Africa Command confirmed the recovery of Specialist Mariyah Collington, 19, in a joint statement with the US Army Southern European Task Force. Collington and First Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, disappeared on May 2 near the Cap Draa Training Area along Morocco’s southern coast. Key’s remains were found on May 9. Collington’s were located Tuesday inside a coastal cave roughly 500 meters from where the two entered the water.

The Army noted that treacherous ocean conditions, difficult terrain, and limited access to the cave significantly hampered recovery efforts throughout the operation.

A Rescue Attempt Gone Wrong

The two soldiers were not on duty when they disappeared. A preliminary account indicated that a group of service members had hiked to watch the sunset when one soldier, unable to swim, fell into the water. Collington jumped in to attempt a rescue. A wave then struck her before fellow soldiers could intervene. Despite immediate efforts by the group, neither could be pulled to safety.

Collington, a native of Tavares, Florida, served as an air and missile defense crew member with Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. She had entered the Army’s Delayed Entry Program in 2023 and began active duty the following year.

Massive Search Effort Across Sea and Land

The recovery operation drew more than 1,000 US and Moroccan military and civilian personnel. Search assets included drones, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, maritime vessels, dive teams, mountaineering units, and ground teams. The effort covered more than 8,200 square miles in total.

Brigadier General Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said the loss was profound for the entire command. He credited both US and Moroccan forces for their professionalism throughout the search. AFRICOM’s statement called the joint operation a demonstration of what combined military partnerships are built for, citing the African Lion exercise program as the foundation for that cooperation.

Collington’s remains were transported by Royal Moroccan Armed Forces helicopter to a military hospital in Guelmim. The Air Force is returning the remains of both soldiers to the United States.

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