The Mid-Atlantic WWII Association, for all intensive purposes, began in the summer of 2002 when Mike  Pumphrey (4th ID Military Police) and Mike Hamady (Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 11) discussed the possibility of  forming a closer union of highly authentic units.  Mike Hamady would later serve as the MAWW2A first  vice president and Mike Pumphrey as it’s first safety officer. 

The idea was that these units would “play well” with one another and could appreciate the work each  other had done on their impressions.  The units would not only show up to shoot at one another, but  invest time, money, and effort beyond their personal kits to make each MAWW2A event feel like WWII.

That fall the idea was put forth to use an event which Mike Pumphrey had been running for 2 years as a  test bed for this idea.  The event would be solely by “invitation only” and the groups would be juried.  The event which came to be known as “Roop’s Farm,” who’s owner Roger Thor Roop (4th ID, 8th Regt, I&R) would become the association’s first president served this purpose very well.  It was a small event of 100 to 120 participants on 98 acres of land, so it was very intimate and offered and opportunity to see this if this experiment would work.  The event was a smashing success and invited units were put under even more of a microscope in an effort to weed out units solely in it for trigger time and busting off caps. 

In the winter of 2002/2003 the association had its first official board meeting at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in College Park, MD.  The first order of business was to decide on a name and a direction for the association.  The association would remain small and regional representing the best WWII living history units in the Mid-Atlantic region.  The focus would be “quality over quantity.” units would be encouraged to not only dress accurately, but behave accurately on and off the field.  That each unit would make every attempt to help create that photographic image of life for a soldier during WWII.  To make the MAWW2A official in the eyes of the state and federal government Tim Learman (Pathfinders, 508th PIR, 82nd. Abn.) would assist Roger Roop in fleshing out the Bi Laws of the association.  Tim Learman would later serve as the MAWW2A’s first Secretary.

With the first draft of the MAWW2A’s Charter/Bi Laws, the MAWW2A held its Summer/Fall meeting on August 24, 2003.  The second order of business was the ratification of the MAWW2A’s Bi Laws.  It was decided that elections for board officers would be held at the next board meeting which took place at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant on January 18th, 2004.

At this meeting the Mid-Atlantic WWII Association accepted its first petition for membership from the 33rd. Signal Construction Battalion.  The elections which were held selected the following slate of officers to be the MAWW2A first and current board of trustees.

Roger Thor Roop (4th ID, 8th Regt, I&R)
President

*Mike Hamady (Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 11)
Vice President

Tim Learman (Pathfinders, 508th PIR, 82nd. Abn.)
Secretary

Robert Slater (6. /Pz. Gren. Rgt. 1 Herman Goering Div. )
Treasurer

*Mike Pumphrey (4th ID Military Police) 
Safety Officer

*Prior to June 24th, 2004, the MAWW2A had no Vice President.  Because of the necessity of both state and federal incorporation procedures, the MAWW2A was forced to hold an emergency election to fill the position of Vice President, leaving Mike Pumphrey to take over the role of Safety Officer.

The Mid-Atlantic WWII Association is actively growing and is seeking to become a 5013C Non-Profit organization who's members will be fully insured.  This association has become an significant partner in creating challenging and highly authentic events where standards remain very high and thus has helped change the face of reenactment tacticals.