The combat path of a warrior, a native of the village Koshkarovo of the Nizhny Novgorod province of Major General Mikhail Yakovlevich Balalaev began in 1914. In the First World War, Balaev was awarded two high royal awards - St. George's Crosses. In 1919 he participated in the Civil War. For military work in the Great Patriotic War, Mikhail Yakovlevich was awarded eight orders and many medals.