In early 1958 "Pocono" served as flagship for operation "Packard X", an Atlantic Fleet amphibious exercise at Onslow Beach, N.C. On 23 June 1958 she departed the U.S. bound for the Mediterranean. She was diverted to Beirut, Lebanon, where she controlled the landing that assisted that nation. During her three-month stay in Beirut, she performed such functions as air control and command communications. Because of the Lebanon Crisis the regular six-month Mediterranean deployment was extended to nine months, with "Pocono" returning to Norfolk on 20 March 1959.