War protesters who gather regularly at the military recruiting station in Oakland were buoyed yesterday by four fresh faces, all veterans of the war in Iraq.

Young and angry, these vets say they were betrayed by the U.S. government. Their cause as they travel from city to city is to end the war.

"This is my job right now. I don't want to be part of the way things are," said Steve Mortillo, 24, an Army veteran who served in Iraq for 11 months in 2004 and 2005.

Mr. Mortillo, born in New York City and raised in Pennington, N.J., said he enlisted because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I could see the twin towers from my house. It was personal for me," he said.

While serving in Iraq, he said, he thought little about the politics of war. But after returning to the United States about six months ago, his outlook hardened into that of an opponent. He said he concluded that the government lied to him and every serviceman when it said going to war in Iraq was essential to national security.

"The situation in Iraq is deteriorating not only while we're there but because we're there. There are rallies to bring Saddam back," Mr. Mortillo said of the deposed Iraqi dictator.

Another veteran, Toby Hartbarger of Muncie, Ind., said he turned against the war for many reasons.

He saw no connection between stopping terrorists and the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Private contractors with government contracts grew rich while servicemen received subsistence pay. Friends in his outfit died.

Mr. Hartbarger served in the Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He said he was in Iraq from May 2003 to August 2004.

Now 22, he says he is convinced that the war is a waste of life and American resources.

Mr. Hartbarger joined the Army because he needed money for college. But he has put off enrolling to campaign against the war.

Veterans were joined on what they call the Uprise Tour by other young people who support an immediate end to the war.

One is Kate Flanagan, 20, who has interrupted her studies at the University of California Santa Cruz to take part in the anti-war movement.

"It's a myth that politicians can change things," Ms. Flanagan said. "It's up to the people to make changes. We're building communities to do it."

Mr. Mortillo was not as optimistic. He said the war has no good purpose, yet it continues to have supporters.

"Don't we learn from history?" he asked. "Have we forgotten about Vietnam?"