[tet68]

Actually my reference was to the fact that Kimmel had sent
Fletcher and a relief force to Wake.

Fletcher, aware of the state of flux in command proceeded slowly until kimmel was relieved by vice Admiral Pye
who was himself just a stand in until
Nimitz could arrive from Washington.

The Japanese beat Fletcher to it and took Wake, something
that perhaps need not have happened.

[Tuco-bad]

Actually my reference was to the fact that Kimmel had sent Fletcher and a relief force to Wake.

Fletcher, aware of the state of flux in command proceeded slowly until kimmel was relieved by vice Admiral Pye who was himself just a stand in until Nimitz could arrive from Washington.

Agreed.

The Japanese beat Fletcher to it and took Wake, something that perhaps need not have happened.

Was a very risky opertion, could have gone good or bad.

Historians don't refer to it much, but they should.