 For the next five years, "Wahkiakum County" pursued a regular schedule of operations off the United States East Coast and into the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.She was deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1958 and 1959, both from January through June.Operating with the Atlantic Fleet's amphibious force, she served alternatively as a helicopter carrier -— a harbinger of the roles which other ships of her type would perform during the Vietnam War; a shore bombardment safety vessel; an afloat gunnery training ship; and a transport for Navy construction battalions (CB's or "Seabees") and their equipment.