kames was drafted into the united states army during world war ii. he was a member of the service for approximately one year, when an army chaplain heard his playing the piano. the chaplain reportedly asked kames if he could play the organ. he did not know how to play this instrument, but decided to give it a try. as result, kames earned his first job in music as both the army chapel organist, as well as the chaplain's full-time assistant.