This short-lived CBS series (it ran from 6 August to 1 October 1953 as a temporary Thursday night replacement for My Little Margie) presented factual dramatisations based on the files of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, which, acting in the same capacity as the civilian police department, investigates all crimes committed by – or against – US Army personnel (and property) anywhere in the world.
The production was given access to the records of actual Army investigators on file at Camp Gordon (now Fort Eisenhower) outside Augusta, Georgia.
Addison Richards played the CID colonel who presented the case each week and briefed the men assigned to it. He was the only continuing character, and in the interest of realism, Executive Producer William Dozier opted not to use well-known faces in any of the other key roles.
The live series (with filmed inserts) originated in the New York CBS-TV studios and premiered as Pentagon Confidential.
The title was changed to Pentagon USA for the second episode onwards after Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer – the authors of the controversial books Washington Confidential, New York Confidential, Chicago Confidential and USA Confidential – threatened possible legal action.
Criminal Investigation Division Colonel
Addison Richards Police Detective
Gene Lyons Army Investigator Bellinger
Edward Binns Army Investigator
Larry Fletcher
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