Career
He led Romanian troops in the Romanian War of Independence (1877) in Griviţa, Bucov, Opanez, Smardan, Pleven, Vidin. Cerchez was a colonel in the Romanian Army when he gained fame for fighting against the Turkish Army in the Balkans. On 28 November 1877 in Pleven Castle, Osman Pasha surrendered and gave him his sword.
Out of gratitude for his efforts, in Romania, the 85th Logistics Support Battalion for the 8th Mixed artillery brigade was named General Mihail Cerchez
As a gratitude for his efforts toward the independence of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian people built a bust in the Romanian Soldier Mausoleum at Grivitsa.