U.S. AIR FORCE Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, left, pins the Distinguished Flying Cross and the General P.K. Carlton Award for Valor on USAF Maj. Jacob G. Broullire, formerly of Niagara, Wis.

IRON MOUNTAIN — U.S. Air Force Maj. Jacob Broullire, who was born in Iron Mountain and raised in Niagara, Wis., recently was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” device and the General P.K. Carlton Award for Valor.

After graduating from Niagara High School in 2005, he joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following graduation he commissioned as a second lieutenant and attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training with both the Navy and the Air Force.

After winging, he was initially assigned to the C-130H as a co-pilot. After that tour, he transferred to Air Force Special Operations, where he became an aircraft commander and instructor pilot.

Broullire is one of 36 pilots qualified in his airframe among all 19,075 Air Force pilots. He flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II, known as the “Chariot of Armageddon.”

Due to the sensitive nature of the operation for which he was honored, AFSOC Public Affairs was required to heavily sanitize the narrative of events. In early 2020, on one particular mission during a short-notice deployment, Broullire peaked in his performance as a pilot and aircraft commander.

That night, while assigned to the 15th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Joint Special Operations Air Component Central, Special Operations Command Central, he saved 103 people on his plane alone while flying in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Upon notification of tasking, his crew was airborne within 45 minutes departing on a mission with unspecified objectives. He and his crew accepted the risk of flying near maximum wartime weight despite low fuel situations, multiple aircraft emergencies and a narrow time window to complete their mission.

Ultimately, the crews’ professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty prevented the destruction of his aircraft, preserved four other coalition aircraft, and ensured the safety of 103 personnel as part of an overall concerted effort that saved more than 270 American lives.

He prevented any casualties on his mission despite great personal risk and under extreme circumstances due to quick and precise decision making.

For these efforts and his performance that night, Broullire was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” device and the General P.K. Carlton Award for Valor.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is the nation’s highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement.

It was established on July 2, 1926, and is awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine.

The “C” device was established to distinguish an award earned for exceptionally meritorious service or achievement performed under combat conditions. The device is only authorized if the service or achievement was performed while the service member was personally exposed to hostile action or under significant risk of hostile action.

He was presented the DFC by U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, AFSOC commander. At the ceremony, Slife spoke about the unprecedented combat success the MC-130H crews have demonstrated for more than two decades.

“Our Talon crews, under your leadership, proudly contributed to that legacy,” Slife said. “The disciplined initiative of our Talon crew members and your ability to solve complex problems in the moment is unique. You represent the competitive advantage that our nation needs.”

The General P.K. Carlton Award for Valor identifies and recognizes an outstanding airlift or tanker aircrew or aircrew member for valor based on demonstrated courage, strength, determination, bravery and fearlessness during combat, contingency or a humanitarian mission.

It is named in honor of the late Gen. P.K. Carlton, who retired in 1977 as the commander of Military Airlift Command.