Lubbock Troop Salute – We salute Shane Williams of Lubbock

We salute Shane Williams of Lubbock for his work as part of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion and wish him fair winds and following seas. Come back to Lubbock safe and soon!

Story By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach

GULFPORT, Miss. – Since 1942, sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Construction Force have been building and fighting around the world. Constructionman Shane Williams, a Lubbock, Texas, native is one of those sailors.

Eighty-two years ago, members of Navy Construction Battalions were fittingly nicknamed, “Seabees,” a play on the C and B initials. They are responsible for building military bases and airfields, supporting humanitarian efforts and conducting underwater construction projects. The Seabees’ motto is “We Build, We Fight.”

Williams is a construction electrician currently serving with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 at the headquarters for naval construction forces in Gulfport, Mississippi, that serves as a home base for the Atlantic Fleet Seabees.

Williams graduated from Friendship High School in 2022.

Williams joined the Navy two years ago.

“I joined the Navy because I didn’t want to go to college and I wanted to be an electrician,” said Williams.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Lubbock.

“In wrestling, I learned the importance of being physically fit and a hard worker,” said Williams.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Williams serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.

“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”

Williams has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“I’m most proud of being Delta Company Seebee of the Month for helping supply other countries I visited while on deployments in fixing equipment and providing inventories,” said Williams.

Williams can take pride in serving America through military service.

“Serving in the Navy makes my family happy and I’m proud of what we do in the battalions,” said Williams.

Williams is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible. “I’d like to give a shout out to my family, my brother Seth Williams, my wrestling coach, Coach Wood, and my cousins for all their support,” added Williams.