Mideast Crash of Navy Copter Kills KCBS-TV Cameraman

A KCBS-TV cameraman who worked for Channel 2 for 24 years was killed Friday in the Persian Gulf when the U.S. Navy helicopter in which he was riding crashed into a Syrian freighter, the Pentagon said.

Larry Greene, 50, of Agoura Hills died and four sailors on the helicopter were injured when a rotor of the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter accidentally hit the mast of the Syrian ship 80 miles off the Iranian coast, said Air Force Brig. Gen. John Rosa, a military spokesman in Washington.

One of the sailors was flown to the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington for treatment, while the three others were taken to an undisclosed location. Their injuries ranged from broken bones to cuts and scrapes.

The helicopter fell into the ocean. The military spokesman did not say whether anyone on the ship was hurt.

Greene was working with reporter Randy Paige on special assignment, covering U.S. servicemen serving in the Middle East, KCBS officials said. He left Los Angeles on Sunday. Greene recently filmed a Sept. 11 commemorative report in New York City for the station.

Rosa said the Syrian ship has been detained four days, but declined to elaborate. Paige was on the Mobile Bay, a guided missile cruiser, 200 yards from the Syrian freighter when the accident occurred, said Cmdr. Jack Papp, a Navy spokesman in San Diego.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, he said.

Colleagues in the Southern California news world paid tribute to Greene as a versatile cameraman who exhibited great bravery on such far-flung assignments as the El Salvador and Armenian earthquakes and in Saudi Arabia after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In addition, they said, he was a delight to work with because of his imagination and humor.

“The entire KCBS family mourns the tragic passing of our beloved friend and colleague Larry Greene.... [He had] established himself as one of the best and most honored photojournalists in the business,” said Don Corsini, KCBS president and general manager.

“In addition to being a consummate pro who loved taking on the tough assignments, Larry had a special gift for enlightening and frequently entertaining his colleagues. Our thoughts are with Larry’s wife (Diana) and their two sons, (Clayton, 13, and Connor, 9), as well as the many people at Channel 2 and throughout the Southland who considered Larry a dear friend.”

A family spokesman said they were too distraught to comment. A memorial service date will be announced later, he said.

In January, Greene was part of the KCBS team that won a 2002 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for its special report on lead paint in Southland schools.

“Larry was a remarkable photojournalist. He had that special gift to tell a unique story with pictures and sound,” said KCBS anchor Laura Diaz. “I was struck by his relentless pursuit of a news story. Larry brought his love of life, his love of family, his love of journalism to his work. He had a sparkling wit. And there is an enormous void in this newsroom today. We are deeply saddened.”

Jennifer Cobb, executive producer in charge of the investigative unit at the station, called Greene “the heart and soul of the special assignment team.”

“We truly loved and will miss him,” she said. “We’re just in a state of shock right now.” Greene and Paige had been in the Persian Gulf immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks “and they wanted to go back to see how our men and women were doing over there now,” she said.

Station spokesman Mike Nelson said KCBS will set up a scholarship fund for Greene’s children.

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Times staff writers Tony Perry, Greg Krikorian and John Hendren contributed to this report.