Chen Lei joined the vanguard of national liberation in China on 1936.

1938 joined the army and joined the party in the same year.

During the Agrarian Revolution, he took part in the work of the national liberation vanguard in China.

During War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's period, he served as an anti-college student, training staff officer, vice captain of artillery training team and training section chief. Participated in the Hundred Regiments War, previous campaigns against "mopping up" and battles in Nanlin and Pan Wu.

During the War of Liberation, he served as chief of staff and deputy chief of staff of the regiment, chief of staff of the First Division of Dabie Mountain, deputy chief of staff and chief of staff of the division, and participated in the battles of Longhai, advancing into Dabie Mountain, Yangshanji, Susong and crossing the river and their pursuit and annihilation wars.

After the founding of New China, he successively served as deputy commander of Fuling Military Division, director of the Organization and Planning Department of Southwest Military Region, first deputy director and director of the Organization and Planning Bureau of the General Logistics Department, and deputy director of the General Logistics Department Office, making contributions to the revolutionization, modernization and regularization of the army.